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 spicy cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 26 August - 1 September 2022 Cayman tourism leaders eye sector revival Page 5 Growing population strains school capacity Pages 18-21 3 miles down: Exploring the deep Page 6 SEA CHANGE Court confi rms Conservation Council’s powers in landmark rulingPage 3Matinees (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $9.00 (Mon-Fri before 6pm) Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets 640-FILM (640-3456) Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. 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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 Bryan: Changes to ganja and gambling laws up to the people Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan says the people of Cayman should decide whether to decriminalise cannabis and gambling, possibly through a referendum process. Speaking on Radio Cayman’s ‘For The Record’ with Orrett Connor on 22 Aug., Bryan said both issues had long been the subject of debate in Cayman, but ultimately, it was up to the voting public, not politicians, to decide whether to decriminalise them. Responding to a question from caller Elvis McKeever in Cayman Brac, who ran under a legalisation-of-ganja campaign in last year’s general election, Bryan said he was in favour of decriminalising marijuana, but it was not his, nor other lawmakers’ decision to make. McKeever said that because growing cannabis is illegal in Cayman, local farmers are unable to take economic advantage of the fact that medical cannabis oil can be legally sold. He claimed this was discriminatory towards Cayman’s farmers, and questioned why overseas growers could make money from this, but Cayman’s farmers could not. Deputy Premier Chris Saunders also addressed the issue of the legal status of ganja growth, possession and supply last week on an earlier appearance on the radio show, saying that the PACT government had included the decriminalisation of ganja in its Strategic Policy Statement last July. He said the subject has been “dominating the caucus meetings lately”, and that an announcement on the issue would be made soon. But he added, “I want to make one caveat here – the decriminalisation of ganja versus the legalisation of ganja are two different issues. So while the government would be looking at decriminalise ganja, legalise is a whole different conversation altogether.” Decriminalisation would mean ganja would remain prohibited by law, but the police and courts would no longer prosecute or criminalise a person for carrying under a certain amount. Legalisation, on the other hand, means that ganja is no longer illegal and could be sold in much the same way as tobacco or alcohol. Police issue fresh warning over forged $100 bills Police are continuing to receive reports of forged $100 bills being passed in Cayman. The RCIPS Financial Crime Investigation Unit, in an alert issued on 22 Aug., said, since June this year, they have received five reports of people using the fake notes – one in Cayman Brac and four in Grand Cayman. A 52-year-old man, of Bodden Town, was arrested in June, after officers seized several thousand dollars in forged CI$100 notes. Police said that in four of the recent instances, the forged $100 notes had the serial number D/1 292395, the same serial number that had been seen on previous counterfeit $100 notes and on the notes seized when the man was arrested. The FCIU is advising anyone who receives a counterfeit note, or suspects one to be counterfeit, to make note of the description of the person passing the note, as well as that of any companions who may be with them. The unit is also advising that anyone who receives a suspected forged note should not return the note to the passer if possible. Instead, initial and date the white border of the note, then tag the note with a copy of the transaction receipt and call the police. “Banks and commercial premises may be in possession of forged currency report forms issued by the FCIU. If so, please obtain as much information as possible from the person passing the note and submit it on these forms,” the unit noted. For more information on how to ensure that bank notes are genuine, visit the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority website at www.cima.ky. Jude Scott resigns as Cayman Airways chairman Jude Scott has resigned as the chairman of the board of Cayman Airways, officials announced on 24 Aug. In a press release, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport stated that it had “regrettably” accepted Scott’s resignation. Scott, the former chief executive officer of Cayman Finance, was appointed to the post on the Cayman Airways board of directors in September last year. The ministry said that a new chair would be appointed next week. In the interim, the board’s deputy chairman, John-Paul Clarke, will serve as acting chairman until the new appointment has been confirmed, the ministry said. “It saddens me to accept Mr. Scott’s resignation, as the Ministry and Cayman Airways have benefited greatly from his insights and dedication,” said Bryan said in the release. “I wish to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Scott for his leadership and guidance during his tenure, and wish him every success in his future endeavours.” The release did not give a reason for Scott’s resignation. This had been his second time serving as chairman of the national airline’s board. He was first appointed in 2009. Cubans leave Cayman, as more arrive on boats A number of Cubans, who had previously arrived by boat, have left Cayman, Customs and Border Control confirmed this week. CBC said it did not know exactly how many had left or their identities, as some Cuban arrivals have been released from detention and are living in civic centres or rented accommodation, pending decisions on their asylum applications. Authorities also noted that those who have been released from detention are not electronically monitored. Meanwhile, two more boats carrying Cubans have arrived in Cayman. On 23 Aug., a boat carrying six male passengers arrived in Cayman Brac, and on 22 Aug., four males and one female disembarked from a boat that arrived in East End. Two arrested in anti- corruption probe Two men have been arrested by investigators from the Anti- Corruption Commission. According to a press release, the two 44-year-old men, from Prospect and George Town, were arrested on 23 Aug., on suspicion of four offences, including breach of trust; fraud on the government; false accounting and money laundering. Both have since been released on bail. news in brief Police are warning people to check the serial number, on top left hand corner, of $100 bills. The forged bills carry the number D/1 292395. cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 2022NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky In a landmark judgment, the Grand Court ruled this week that the National Conservation Council has the power to direct the Central Planning Authority to turn down planning applications that have adverse environmental impacts on protected areas or habitats of protected species. The ruling comes after the planning board approved an application in September last year to rebuild a seawall and cabana on Boggy Sand Road in West Bay, by a protected marine reserve, despite a direction from the National Conservation Council to reject the application. The Department of Environment, under delegated authority from the NCC, had directed the Central Planning Authority not to approve the application by Cayman Property Investments Ltd., on the grounds of the expected detrimental impact on the protected marine environment and the beach. In his ruling, issued on Tuesday, 23 Aug., the Grand Court’s Acting Justice Alistair Walters concluded that the Central Planning Authority had acted unlawfully when it approved the application, and he quashed the planning approval. In his 51-page decision, the judge confirmed that the National Conservation Act gives the National Conservation Council the authority to direct any entity of the government, including ministries, departments and statutory authorities, in actions that would have, or would be likely to have, an adverse effect on a protected area or on the critical habitat of a protected species. In court, lawyers for the Central Planning Authority had argued that the council could issue “guidance”, but could not order an entity to take any specific action. The judge’s ruling also confirmed that the National Conservation Act provides the NCC with an “express power of delegation”, therefore it can legally delegate its powers to the director of the Department of Environment. The CPA lawyers had argued during the judicial review that DoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie and her department had not been lawfully delegated the authority to direct the planning board, and, therefore, the board did not have to follow her directions on the application. Protection for ‘invaluable, unique’ environment In a statement issued in response to the ruling, Ebanks- Petrie said, “This decision will ensure environmental concerns are factored into decision-making processes across the Cayman Islands Government, particularly where actions may or are likely to have an adverse effect on a protected area or protected species critical habitat.” Premier and Minister for Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Wayne Panton, in that statement, said the Grand Court’s decision clarified the NCC’s role in safeguarding protected areas and species in the Cayman Islands. “Not only does this decision confirm the legal relationship between the National Conservation Council and the Central Planning Authority, it also clarifies the implications for all other government entities, giving all parties greater certainty and clarity going forward,” he said. He added, “As the ruling notes, the National Conservation Act is a bespoke piece of legislation, developed specifically to protect our invaluable, uniquely Caymanian marine and terrestrial habitats and species. A viable, functioning natural environment is foundational to a resilient economy and healthy communities.” The National Conservation Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly, now Parliament, in 2013, but was not fully implemented until 2016. Under that law, the National Conservation Council was set up. Kate McClymont of law firm Nelsons, who acted for the NCC in the judicial review, told the Compass on 24 Aug. that there was a misconception that the ruling would mean the council, and the Department of Environment, now had overarching powers to make decisions on all planning applications that may have environmental impacts. “People have misinterpreted this,” she said. “They think it’s any application where there is an adverse effect on the environment. That is not true. It only applies to protected areas and critical habitats of protected species.” She said the ruling means that in cases when the DoE or NCC determines that a project is likely to adversely impact a protected area or the critical habitat of a protected species, if the planning board or government entity decides independently that it does not, then the matter must be brought back to the NCC. At that point, she said, the council has the right to direct the CPA to approve or reject the application, or, alternatively, to instruct that conditions be put in place to mitigate the potential impact on the environment. In a statement issued on 25 Aug., Central Planning Authority Chairman Ian Pairaudeau said, “The decision of the Grand Court dated 23rd August 2022 is currently being reviewed by the CPA and its legal counsel and upon completion of that review, the CPA will make any further statements on the matter, which the CPA determines to be appropriate at that time.” Concern among developers Sammy Jackson, of Jackson Law, who acted for the CPA in the judicial review, said the court’s decision was likely to cause a “lot of concern among the folks in the development field, and for good reason”. He said a decision had yet to be made on whether the CPA would appeal the judgment. He said he believed personally that it should be appealed, as it “completely alters the way the planning board and many other statutory bodies, would function”. He said there appeared to be a “lack of recognition in how the process works in the first place,” adding that under the Development and Planning Law, the planning board already is bound to consult with the DoE on applications and take its submissions on board. “It’s a matter of how that dovetails with Section 40 of the National Conservation Act,” he said. That section states that government entities must consult with the National Conservation Council and take its views into account before making a decision on anything that is likely to have an adverse effect on the environment generally, and that they must get specific approval from the NCC on matters that could adversely affect protected areas or critical habitats of protected species. Government bodies pitted against one another The judicial review effectively involved two government entities challenging one another’s authority. The chief officer in the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, Jennifer Ahearn said the decision to bring the dispute to the Grand Court was not taken lightly. “We believe this ruling brings us closer to our constitutional mandate of ensuring the Cayman Islands Government shall, in all its decisions, have due regard to the need to foster and protect an environment that is beneficial to the health and well-being of present and future generations. We look forward to the CPA and other entities continuing to work more collaboratively with the NCC in their considerations,” she said. National Conservation Council Chairman McFarlane Conolly said the court’s decision had provided clarification “on a fundamental difference of interpretation of the National Conservation Act between the NCC and CPA which we tried many times to resolve before the NCC applied to the Court as a final recourse”. He added, “The decision confirms the Council acted lawfully in its delegation of powers to the Director of the Department of Environment, and that we have acted in accordance with our legal mandate under the National Conservation Act.” Court upholds powers of Conservation Council “Not only does this decision confirm the legal relationship between the National Conservation Council and the Central Planning Authority, it also clarifies the implications for all other government entities, giving all parties greater certainty and clarity going forward .” Premier and Minister for Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Wayne Panton Overturns planning permission to replace a seawall and cabana on Boggy Sand Road cayman compass 3 news N news FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 20221234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Unruly (7) 5 Armed robbery (5) 8 Capital of North Korea (9) 9 A bond of kinship (3) 10 Wickedness (4) 12 Potential customer (8) 14 Gloomy (6) 15 Comfort in distress (6) 17 Guileless (8) 18 Leave hurriedly (4) 21 Put on (3) 22 Cause great confusion (4,5) 24 To welcome (5) 25 A repeated decorative design (7) DOWN 1 Go out of existence (5) 2 To court (3) 3 Uptight (4) 4 Stellar (6) 5 Most enjoyable feature (4,4) 6 Lacking information (2,3,4) 7 Playhouse (7) 11 Proximity (9) 13 Crazy (8) 14 Lively party (7) 16 Set up tents (6) 19 Hickory nut (5) 20 Informal conversation (4) 23 Compete (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17093 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 17093 ACROSS: 1 Lawless, 5 Heist, 8 Pyongyang, 9 Tie, 10 Evil, 12 Prospect, 14 Sombre, 15 Solace, 17 Innocent, 18 Skip, 21 Don, 22 Play havoc, 24 Greet, 25 Pattern. DOWN: 1 Lapse, 2 Woo, 3 Edgy, 4 Starry, 5 High spot, 6 In the dark, 7 Theatre, 11 Imminence, 13 Crackpot, 14 Shindig, 16 Encamp, 19 Pecan, 20 Chat, 23 Vie. cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 2022 4 Past is prologue. Cayman’s census doesn’t just show where we have been, it shows were we are going – a graph stretching ever upwards like the hypothetical skyscrapers of the future. Some fear it; some welcome it. Over the past five weeks, the Compass has used those graphs as part of its analysis of census data and made sense of the stories contained within the numbers. They’re instructive. They show us much about who we are and the way we live now. Cayman’s population has grown exponentially, more than a 1,000% increase since the early 1950s. Even by the most modest projections, Cayman’s population will hit 100,000 by 2040. With a 4-5% growth rate, we will be there in eight years. And yet, 30 years ago, people thought 60,000 was unsustainable. Clearly, it is not. Is 100,000 when we come up against a hard stop for Cayman’s population growth? If not, what is the magic number the islands should not exceed? If one exists, Premier Wayne Panton acknowledged he doesn’t know what it is. Space is not the issue. Cayman is larger than Manhattan. It can grow as much as we want. The real issue is deciding what that expansion is and how we manage and pursue it. Do we want to be Singapore in the Caribbean Sea? That’s one possible future. Or do we want to retain the quaint island charm, with the benefits of a 21st century economy and infrastructure? First thing that is needed is a vision, then a map to get there. At the moment, we have neither. Cabinet seems divided about what it wants. And Premier Wayne Panton, into the second year of his term, will delay the islands’ much-needed development plan for another administration. Panton advocates for a “reasonable level” of growth, that is “not uncontrolled and unpredicted”; the Opposition advocates for planned, economic growth, preferring this to the “disaster” of no growth. And yet there is no policy suggestion on the table that in any way controls or curbs growth to alter the trajectory of the graph from the direction in which it is currently heading, unabated. While Cayman’s infrastructure challenges pale in comparison to those grappled with by other countries, both our development and infrastructure planning are a long way off. The census quantifies how great the need for new schools, public transport and affordable housing. It will be 2031 - and time for another census - before the paperwork is even drawn up on any of those crucial elements of future planning. In the meantime, we’re running out of space; conservative projections put Cayman’s total student population in 2032 at 10,800 – 2,000 more than today (see page 18). Charities are buckling under the demand for assistance, as rent and cost-of-living expenses mushroom (Compass, 12 Aug.). So we will proceed to build the new Cayman, the same way the current one was built – on a wing and a prayer – with the schematics being drawn up while the structure is already in progress. Meanwhile, there are no real proposals in terms of immigration reform or transformative education and workforce planning that would lessen the jurisdiction’s reliance on imported labour. The majority of future growth sectors, from tech to healthcare, will require more imported workers, not fewer. If these industries are to flourish here, they are predicated on specialist skills and experience sets that Cayman does not have, or has only on a fledgling scale. Imported labour has also been a catalyst for opportunities for Caymanians and increases in living standards over the past decades. Both PACT and the Opposition – despite telling their voters something different at times – believe this is a good thing. Caymanians – particularly the younger generation – have invested their hopes and votes in Panton to lead the jurisdiction to a more sustainable future. But if he leaves a proper development framework to the next cohort of politicians, there’s no guarantee he’ll get a second chance to be at the helm – or even on the ship. There remain serious, unanswered questions about whether Cayman’s natural resources can withstand the current pace of growth, before we reach that hard stop, ecologically and geographically. The issues at the core of the balance between development and sustainability are precarious; they have reignited with the legal ruling this week in favour of the National Conservation Council’s power over the Central Planning Authority, (see page 3). Identifying and cultivating this balance is complex and involves long-term planning. The goalposts can move. That’s why governments have shirked it, in favour of short- term vote-winning policies. But we are going to procrastinate our way out of a solution. Go to the people, develop a vision and then draw up a map. There’s no guarantee at second terms and second chances. Editorial: The clock is ticking Bodden Town teenager Brianna Livingston, 18, was crowned the new Miss Teen Cayman Islands at the 41st annual pageant at the Lions Community Centre on Saturday, 20 Aug. She also made pageant history becoming the first daughter of a former Miss Teen Cayman Islands titleholder to wear the crown. Her mother Donna Bush, who won the Miss Teen crown in 1984, was on hand at the event to celebrate the achievement. Keanna Kelly, 17, of West Bay was named 1st runner-up at the pageant, while 15-year-old DeShae Cann won the 2nd runner-up spot. pic of the day Cayman lifts COVID travel restrictions $6 an hour minimum wage and the highest cost of living. Why did it take this long? – Garth Mckenzie Everyone can now make their own decisions to do the following:- 1. Get vaccinated. 2. Wear masks in public places. 3. Go to large gathering events. 4. Come to the Cayman Islands. Revenue is important to the residents of the islands. It gives the opportunity for work which in turn allows people to have a roof over their head, food on their table and clothes on their back! – Nancy Whitefield ‘Onslaught’ of pleas for help amid cost-of-living crisis Great article and everyone needs to step up. The cost of living will continue to rise with the issues in Europe. Many have reached out because the work and tips are not there because tourism industry is not open because of the current policies. This is all on the current slow regime of always late and reacting after the fact. Help the country, not yourselves. – Dan Hudson What they’re sayingcayman compass 5 news N news FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 2022 ‘External hurdles’ remain, following dropping of COVID travel rules RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Local tourism leaders say they are looking to brighter days ahead, as they ramp up efforts to get Cayman bookings back on track to make the most of some much needed tourist spend, now that Cayman’s COVID travel restrictions are a thing of the past. Jim Mauer, vice president and managing director at The Westin, said government’s announcement on 19 Aug., ending vaccination requirements and the need for pre-authorisation from Travel Cayman in addition to dropping all restrictions on the size of public gatherings, from 24 Aug., came as a surprise – but one the industry had been hoping would happen a lot sooner. He told the Cayman Compass in a telephone interview on 23 Aug., the focus is on increasing reservations. “We’re excited to see this happen in the third quarter and start to sell everything in the booking window to get ready for ‘23, because that’s really where we’ll see that impact. We would love to see it towards the end of the year, but people have already made plans for vacation and travel and that’s already been committed to [by] a lot of people,” he explained. Mauer said the resort already has seen an increase in its group bookings; he said the vaccination requirement had been a big hurdle to incentive group travel as some people in the group had been inoculated and others not. “We’re getting more engagement than we expected and we have seen a push… it’s not immediate, but it will pay dividends as we move into 2023 and into the fourth quarter,” he added. Cayman Islands Tourism Association executive director Jay Ehrhart believes the signs are good for a busy season. “We are pretty excited. It’s a new era. We have been waiting two-and-a-half years for this,” he told host Doug Dodds on Gold FM’s morning show on 22 Aug. Ehrhart believes busy hotels are good for everyone. “It is trickle-down economics,” he said, “once the hotels are full and the Airbnbs are full, grocery stores are going to get more money, more tips are going to be spread around. The economy is going to get a real jumpstart.” He said the timing of the announcement gave businesses room to get visitors booked in and start staffing up for high season, which typically starts mid-October. “Obviously, the hotels realise they’re going to be needing more staff. We’ve been on skeleton crews for a while,” he said. “I think we’re going to see an uptick in hiring, for sure. So if you’re interested and want to work in the hospitality industry, now’s the time. I think we’re going have a big season.” ‘Late start in the race’ Cayman Islands Tourism Association president Marc Langevin says the lifting of COVID restrictions came with an “overall a sense of celebration” and “relief”, that after two years of battling for survival, it is good to get back to business. “We finally have a clear path and are able to get back in the game and compete for our business. However, due to the delay in the announcement, we had a late start in the race and face some external hurdles, such as flight reduction, global inflation effects and a looming economic crisis,” Langevin said in an interview on 23 Aug. He stressed that the next three months will need collaborative efforts to get Cayman’s tourism industry back to full strength. “As we are looking at the data, our pace for [the first quarter of 2023] for booking is lagging 30-40% and we have a catch-up to do to get back to our normal booking pace,” he added. Langevin emphasised that there was still “so much at stake”, particularly for workers “who deserve to finally regain their livelihood”. “We understand the difficulty for our government to reach consensus on such a difficult decision, we certainly appreciate the passionate advocacy of the members of the PACT who fought for it,” Langevin said. ‘Most challenging time’ since Ivan While many local hotels and holiday lets have seen tourists return incrementally with the phased relaxing of restrictions, the announcement last week is expected to trigger a greater influx of stayover visitors – something James Leavitt, general manager at Grand Cayman Villas and Condos, has been waiting for. “We did get some notice it was coming, but as you well know, we have been disappointed many times with promised easing that didn’t come through. The condo and villa sector is very encouraged and appreciative that the PACT government put this behind us all. We can focus on getting everyone back to work and promoting the destination for 2023,” he said in an emailed comment. Grand Cayman Villas and Condos books for 90 villas and about 150 condos, he said. The most recent announcement, he said, has not caused a spike in large villa inquiries or bookings yet “because most of the larger families with 12 or more people had to make their winter and Spring Break decisions already and had to cross Cayman off the list for the third year in a row”. “On the bright side, we have seen inquiries for smaller families remain strong for both condos and villas for the winter and spring,” he added. Markus Mueri, CITA treasurer and restaurant director, says the last two years have been the most challenging times for the hospitality and watersports industry since Hurricane Ivan, but “once again, our solid business industry was able to survive with few casualties”. “We will again be the leader of the Caribbean in high-end tourism. Cayman defines the highest standards regionally and globally, when it comes to quality,” he added. (See more on tourism revenue projections on page 8.) Cayman’s tourism leaders eye sector revival 1. Travellers will no longer* be required to obtain permission from Travel Cayman to enter the islands. The agency will be disbanded. 2. Unvaccinated tourists will be able to come here without having to quarantine. 3. The requirement for exit PCR tests for COVID-positive individuals in isolation is dropped, although free, confirmatory PCR testing remains available at Public Health’s drive-through testing centre at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. (Close contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID can continue to work and attend school if they complete a daily LFT test and have a negative result.) 4. The isolation period for a COVID- positive individual will be seven days, regardless of whether a person is vaccinated or unvaccinated. 5. All restrictions on the sizes of public gatherings, on land or sea, indoors or outdoors, have been removed. * The amendments came into effect on Wednesday, 24 Aug. What restrictions remain? 1. The mandatory wearing of masks in hospitals, residential homes, places of detention and prisons will continue. (Mask-wearing in churches, restaurants, bars and other places of business remains discretionary, according to Health Minister Sabrina Turner). 2. The changes do not impact the Immigration Transition Act, which requires new work-permit holders entering Cayman to be vaccinated. 3. COVID-19 remains a notifiable disease and positive cases should be reported to Public Health, Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Autilia Newton has advised. Tourism chiefs believe the dropping of the remaining COVID travel restrictions will jumpstart recovery for the industry. However, they caution that some obstacles remain in the aftermath of the pandemic. What are the key changes to the COVID-19 rules? James Whittaker and Norma Connolly contributed to this article.Alvin is lifted from the sea after a dive. – Photos: Marley Parker, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 2022 Sabrina Douglas becomes first Caymanian to explore world’s deepest hydrothermal vents NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Diving Seafarer’s daughter, Department of Environment assistant field officer and, now, deep sea submersible diver, Sabrina Douglas has become the first Caymanian to explore the depths of the Cayman Trench in a submarine. Douglas has spent the last few weeks on board the US Navy’s research vessel Atlantis, which is operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, with a team that is using the Alvin deep-sea submersible to explore the Cayman Trench and the Puerto Rico Trench. On 10 Aug., she joined two others – the pilot and one other observer – on board Alvin to dive just over three miles down the Cayman Trench, also known as the Cayman Trough. “The descent didn’t even feel like the sub was descending at 47 m/min (154 feet a minute) or corkscrewing as it descended,” Douglas told the Cayman Compass in an email from Tampa after disembarking from the research ship late last week. “If you didn’t think about how deep you were descending into the deep ocean, you wouldn’t even know.” She added, “There are four small windows on Alvin and unless you looked outside and saw all the small bioluminescence flying upward, it felt like you were just sitting in a sub on dry land which was getting colder by the minute.” It took the submarine almost three hours to descend, she said, after which pilot Bob Waters carried out his checks, buoyancy controls, and tested the equipment. “We stayed down for almost four hours with a max depth of 4,993 metres (16,381 feet),” she said. Before diving on Alvin, she said, the only other submarine she’d been on was the Atlantis tourist submarine, which used to take passengers down 100 feet, off the George Town coast. Putting Alvin through its paces Douglas was part of the team on expeditions to put Alvin through various verification checks, following the sub’s recent certification to dive more than 20,000 feet, after an 18-month overhaul and upgrade. Anna Michel, the National Deep Submergence Facility chief scientist, explained that since Alvin was certified to dive to 6,500 metres (21,325 feet) during sea trials, the sub has been at sea for the ‘Alvin Science Verification Expedition’, or SVE. Michel told the Compass via email, “SVE was designed to ensure the sub is ready to return to science operations. We’ve been putting the sub through its paces; for example, we’ve been confirming all of the sampling gear works at these new abyssal depths and testing the new imaging system. “At the same time, we’ve brought early career scientists out to sea so they can learn about how they could use Alvin in their research.” Douglas was among those early career scientists chosen to take part. As a specialist in Geographic Information Systems, she helped the team prepare the bathymetric maps used for navigation in the deep dives. “We always want to engage local scientists in our expeditions,” Michel said. Exploring the world’s deepest hydrothermal vents Douglas, along with deep sea biologist Tim Shank and pilot Waters, visited the Beebe Woods site, on the Mid-Cayman Rise, a ridge in the Cayman Trench. The site contains the deepest hydrothermal vents in the world. “Once we got to the sea floor, we came across lots of sea anemones and squat lobsters,” Douglas said. “Then we started to come across what seemed like white rocks but as we got closer I realized that those white areas were areas filled with shrimp, Rimicaris hybisae, which are only found in Cayman waters. These ‘eyeless’ shrimp were discovered in 2010 during an expedition to the ‘black smokers’ – thermal vents that emit super- heated murky mineral-rich water – in the Cayman Trench with the unmanned deep diving vehicle HyBIS. The shrimp were named after the HyBIS. Douglas continued, “Then we came up to the hydrothermal vent that was about 17m (55.7 feet) tall and saw the inactive stacks and a couple active beehives with black smoke billowing out. The sea life in the deep ocean is few and far between and much different than the sea life in shallower waters. They have adapted to higher pressures, no light, and scarce food sources.” During its dives down the Cayman Trench and the Puerto Rican Trench, navigation, imaging, data, and operations at the new depth range were carried out in Alvin, which also collected a variety of samples, including rocks, sediment, water, and biological specimens. Michel said, “The Mid-Cayman Rise was an incredible place to visit. We hope to come back again with Alvin so we can discover more about the geology, biology, and chemistry of this unique deep sea environment.” The team left San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2 Aug., where Douglas had joined them, and pulled into Tampa on 18 Aug. Seafarer’s daughter Douglas is the daughter of John Douglas, one of Cayman’s well- known mariners, and a long-time member of the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association. “He was so excited for me to be able to get this opportunity,” his daughter said. She added, “I am sure, as most parents would be, he was a little nervous of the depths but he always supported me in dreams and the path I was on and this was no different.” Return trip for Alvin This wasn’t the first time Alvin has explored the Cayman Trench. The sub, which has been operating since 1964, first ventured down the trench as part of a series of geology dives in 1976 and ‘77, after Alvin was certified for 4,000 metres (13,124 feet). Alvin is named after oceanographer Allyn Vine, who was the driving force behind the creation of the manned vessel in the 1960s. In its 58-year history, it has carried out more than 5,000 dives. Three miles down the Cayman Trench 16,381 feet The depth Douglas dove in the Alvin submarine, equivalent to 3.1 miles “The sea life in the deep ocean is few and far between and much different than the sea life in shallower waters . They have adapted to higher pressures, no light, and scarce food sources.” Sabrina Douglas Sabrina Douglas emerges from the Alvin submarine after diving the Mid- Cayman Rise in the Cayman Trench on 10 Aug.Dispute over who owns land RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The recent demolition of part of a historic stone wall has reignited calls for a legal framework to protect Cayman’s historic structures. The destruction of the wall, which was originally built by slaves and located on Stone Wall Drive, off Walkers Road, in George Town has triggered a community plea for legal protection for such culturally significant structures. It has also sparked a legal battle between neighbouring property owners who both claim they own the land where the wall was situated. The Department of Planning, in an emailed response Tuesday to the Cayman Compass, said it has issued a stop notice for the clearing of the property and the demolition of the wall, and was now dealing with the matter “through the enforcement process”. David Dewson, who lives near the stone wall, led the charge to stop its destruction on Wednesday, 17 Aug., and sought to have the contractors cease their work, without avail. He says he is disturbed by the lack of attention being given to protect local heritage spaces and structures from developers. “This has to stop,” he told the Compass following the demolition of the wall, saying Cayman has to do better to protect its cultural symbols. “It is really sad that it has come to this. If people do not stand up against this, it will continue and continue,” Dewson said, adding that he tried to step in on behalf of his neighbour, who is off island, to save the wall. Land dispute Sandra Clyatt Meekins, who says she owns the land on which the demolished stone wall had sat, has declined to be interviewed as the matter is now in the hands of lawyers. In a post on local Facebook group Cayman Development Watch, Clyatt Meekins said the land had been purchased by her grandfather in 1920, and that the stone wall made her property “charming”. In that post, she said the wall had been destroyed without her permission or knowledge. The rocks from the demolished wall have been removed to an unknown location. However, Leslie Harvey, the adjoining property owner, speaking the Compass Thursday, disputed that the wall was within Clyatt Meekins’s estate. He said the matter is now subject to legal action, but the boundary markers on the properties are clear, and the wall was within his family’s property line. Harvey acknowledged the controversy over the wall’s destruction and said his family did not know it was a registered heritage symbol. “We believe in conservation, obviously,” he said. “If we had known it was actually designated of historical significance, I don’t think it would have been touched... It wasn’t me that did it... it was my father. “But if you look at the wall, it’s maybe one-and-a-half feet tall, two feet tall, and it’s really just a pile of rocks. It doesn’t look like it has any significance. So, unless you’re told, you wouldn’t know if it’s 20 years old, or 500 years old. There’s no way to tell. So that’s an issue there. It’s on our property, we didn’t know [about it] having significance. There are no laws protecting it.” Dewson said the matter is also in the hands of the police, who are investigating allegations of trespass, as well as threats being made against him. Harvey said his family has stopped any further work on the wall and is disputing the trespass claims. The RCIPS told the Compass that its officers attended several reports between 17 and 20 Aug. concerning the clearing of land and demolition of the wall, and that investigations are being carried out “in relation to offences relating to breaches of the peace that were reported to the police during this time period”. It added, “In order to resolve the matter of the demolition of the wall, the RCIPS extends our full support to our partnering agencies.” Stone wall a reminder of Cayman’s slave past According to the National Trust website, the stone wall – a mixture of coral rock and cliff rock – forms a property line for many homes in the Webster Estate area. “The wall starts around Walkers Road and ends at Rene Hislop’s house. It is believed to have been built by slaves,” the National Trust site notes. Though listed on the Trust’s Heritage Register, the wall does not appear to have any protected status. Harvey says the issue has highlight that it is time for Cayman have a conversation about conservation. “There should be a debate about what we conserve and what we consider something of historical significance. If there’s just a wall that was a boundary put by slaves, what significance would that have? Was it used for our defence? No. Did a meeting happen there or something else of historical significance? Did anything happen there?” he said. He added that a conversation should be held to determine what is preserved and what constitutes sites of historical significance. Otherwise, he said, “Then you’re making the case that you can’t have any kind of progress whatsoever, like, nothing could be disturbed once it’s put in if you go down that logic.” Need for legislative protection Earlier this month, the razing of two old Caymanian homes, built in the 1930s on the George Town waterfront, also elicited a public outcry. Benny Bodden’s House and Ainsley Bodden’s House were listed on the National Trust’s Heritage Register. In a statement this week, the Trust said it had not been notified beforehand of the demolition of the homes or of the stone wall, which, it said,“came as a shock to members of the neighbourhood and wider community”. It added, “Once again, this has brought to the forefront the need for community educational awareness to encourage respect for, and build pride in, Cayman’s built heritage and sites, and which, along with the legislation to protect such heritage sites, is becoming increasingly crucial.” It noted that land owners and home owners are not legally bound to notify the Trust, but “dialogue would allow them and the National Trust to determine possible solutions other than demolition”. Destruction of ‘slave’ wall highlights lack of protections The pile of rubble left after the stone wall was bulldozed on 17 Aug. - Photo: Supplied The Before image shows the wall on the right side of the photo, while the After shot shows the empty space left behind after it was demolished. - Photo: Supplied cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 2022cgcoralisle.com | @cgcoralisle we turn it around. When a hurricane turns your life upside down, We’re here for you before, during and after the storm with comprehensive hurricane coverage to help you get your life back on track. Because after all we live here too. British Caymanian Insurance Company Limited BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, P.O. Box 74 George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1102, Cayman Islands tel: 949-8699 TOP OF AD cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 2022 RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has said he plans to run as a candidate to chair the Caribbean Tourism Organisation when the regional body holds its annual conference in Cayman next month. Bryan, speaking on the Cayman Compass Facebook talkshow The Resh Hour on Wednesday night, 24 Aug., said some of the leaders in the CTO had suggested he run for the post during the conference, which runs from 12-15 Sept. at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Grand Cayman. “The CTO chairman can be someone who can reinvigorate what the Caribbean region is about, and on a global scale can bring the tourists back to the region and help with this connectivity,” he said. He said the suggestion that he run had been made “not just because of me but because of Cayman’s strength and always being a regional leader”. The post is currently held by Barbados tourism minister Lisa Cummins, whose two-year term ends next month, when an election for the chairmanship of the CTO’s Council of Ministers will be held. The longest-standing tourism minister in the region is Edmund Bartlett, who, Bryan said, had indicated to him that he is not going to be seeking a seat as chairman. “Hence, the reason why my name popped up,” he said. “They wanted someone who is young, energetic, and willing to take the bull by the horns and try to bring back some vigour to the Caribbean, and remind the world what we offer as a region.” He added, “I am going to be putting myself forward. There seems to be some support for that. I hope if I am successful... to support my colleagues in the region to make sure they get a piece of the tourism dollar as well because we’re all in this together. Cayman has always been one of the leaders in respect of the many things that we do, and I think this is a time for us to shine as well.” Optimistic projections During the interview, Bryan also revealed that in the first six months of this year, tourism revenue had surpassed expectations. The government has been aiming to attain 40% of its pre-pandemic 2019 figures, amounting to about $15 million, he said. Between January and June, it had already reached 62% of that goal. He added that this trend was unlikely to continue next month as September is traditionally a slow month for the islands, but said tourism traffic was expected to “shoot up” in the following months. “Fingers crossed,” he said, “I am expecting to surpass the revenue [target]... as we’ve passed 62% at the half-way mark.” Tourism conference The Caribbean Tourism Organisation conference, which will be the first major in- person event for the CTO since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, will feature discussions on regional matters relating to tourism and travel among other issues. The CTO is the region’s tourism development agency, with 24 Dutch, English, Spanish and French country members and a myriad of private sector allied members, its official website states. The Cayman Islands Ministry and Department of Tourism are partnering with the CTO to host the organisation’s Business Meetings and Caribbean Tourism Youth Congress next month. Bryan to run as regional tourism chairman “The CTO chairman can be someone who can reinvigorate what the Caribbean region is about, and on a global scale can bring the tourists back to the region and help with this connectivity.” Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan Cayman Compass Facebook talkshow The Resh Hour Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan on The Resh Hour on 24 Aug.RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Premier Wayne Panton has said the planned September end for the pension holiday and the electricity cost relief programme will remain as of now, but government will keep both initiatives “under review”. The two programmes are aimed at assisting the community and businesses with cost-of-living challenges that have been compounded by the pandemic and rising fuel costs. Both are set to end 30 Sept. Speaking at a COVID media briefing on 19 Aug., Panton said the country is moving in a “very positive” direction, and the trend is set to continue as the air travel projections show increasing capacity in the months ahead. Cayman implemented strict border control measures in 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19, which was one of the factors prompting the pension holiday. Last week, government announced it is dropping all remaining travel-related COVID restrictions. “Honestly, we have put a big dent in the private pensions and it is time for us to seriously consider how we move forward with that, and we don’t want to start by just continuing to extend that holiday,” Panton said. “Things have got to start to get back to normal, people have got to start to rebuild their pension accounts.” He said government will “wait and see” how the next couple of months look, and if further relief assistance is required or “some movement or action is required, then we’ll consider that”. When it comes to the electricity bill relief programme, Panton said it was designed to provide assistance to the community through the three hottest months of the year – July, August and September – which are also the highest consumption months. He said government will keep an eye on prices. “We import inflation, we don’t generate it here from our own monetary policy or otherwise, and there is an indication that there is a reduction in the rate of increasing inflation. It may be that in two or three months time circumstances are significantly different... we have a reduction or perhaps even an elimination of the rate of increase in inflation,” he said. Adding to this, he said Cayman has rapidly accelerating opportunities and income with people coming in, “so we’ve got even better economic growth on the horizon”. Essentially, the country will be in a better place where additional assistance may not be required, Panton suggested. Under the government assistance programme, a fuel credit for residential customers who have monthly consumption between 101 kWh and 2,000 kWh has been applied to bills over the summer months. “No matter how much higher the fuel costs go above $.015/ kWh this summer, Government will absorb the difference. For eligible households, electricity customers can expect to see the government assistance credit of up to $100 off their bill depending on their consumption,” a government statement said of the programme. Residential customers with usage greater than 2,000 kWh per month and lower than 101 kWh did not qualify for the programme. In its first month, government paid out $1.2 million in electricity cost relief to combat rising fuel prices that are driving up utility bills. Premier Wayne Panton No change to end date of pension holiday “Things have got to start to get back to normal, people have got to start to rebuild their pension accounts.” Premier Wayne Panton Electricity bill assistance programme also set to finish on 30 Sept. cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST 2022 9Next >