cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 2-8 September 2022 New chief medical offi cer for Cayman Page 3 Labour report reveals rapid population growth Page 5 Father-of-four remembered Page 12 Calm before the storm Photo: Taneos RamsayPhoto: Taneos Ramsay New chief medical offi cer for Cayman Quietest start in 30 years, but above-average hurricane season still predicted Page 6Matinees (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. BEAST (R) (FRI) 4:10 | 7:15 VIP | 10:00 (SAT) 12:45 | 1:15 VIP | 4:10 | 7:15 VIP | 10:00 (MON-THURS) 4:10 | 7:15 VIP | 10:00 DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS (PG) (FRI) 6:45 (SAT) 1:05 | 4:30 VIP | 6:45 (SUN) 3:30 VIP | 4:10 | 6:30 VIP | 6:45 (MON-THURS) 4:30 VIP | 6:45 ELVIS (PG-13) (SUN) 6:45 VIP | 9:00 VIP | 9:20 FALL (PG-13) (FRI) 3:45 VIP | 6:45 | 9:30 (SAT) 3:45 VIP | 6:45 | 9:30 (SUN) 6:45 | 10:00 (MON-THURS) 3:45 VIP | 6:45 | 9:30 THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (PG-13) (FRI) 3:40 | 7:10 | 10:15 VIP (SAT) 3:40 | 7:10 | 10:15 VIP (SUN) 3:40 | 7:10 | 9:40 | 10:15 VIP (MON-WED) 3:40 | 7:10 | 10:15 VIP (THURS) 7:10 | 10:15 VIP WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU (PG) (SUN) 4:10 THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (R) (FRI) 4:00 | 6:45 VIP | 9:20 | 9:40 VIP (SAT) 12:45 | 12:45 VIP | 3:15 | 6:45 VIP | | 9:20 | 9:40 VIP (MON) 4:00 | 6:45 VIP | 9:20 | 9:40 VIP (TUES) 4:00 | 9:20 | 9:40 VIP (WED) 4:00 | 6:45 VIP | 9:20 | 9:40 VIP (THURS) 4:00 | 9:20 | 9:40 VIP WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (PG-13) (FRI) 3:30 | 4:00 VIP | 6:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 | 10:00 VIP (SAT) 12:35 | 1:00 | 3:30 | 4:00 VIP | 6:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 | 10:00 VIP (SUN) 3:30 | 4:00 VIP | 6:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 | 10:00 VIP (MON) 3:30 | 4:00 VIP | 6:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 | 10:00 VIP (TUES) 3:30 | 4:00 VIP | 6:30 | 6:40 VIP | 9:30 | 10:00 VIP (WED) 3:30 | 4:00 VIP | 6:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 | 10:00 VIP (THURS) 3:30 | 4:00 VIP | 6:40 VIP | 6:50 | 9:30 | 10:00 VIP For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted KIDS CLUB TANGLED 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 THE SMURFS SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted CLASSICS THURSDAY 7PM VIP (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 For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted LIVE AND LET DIE TUESDAY 7PM VIP (PG) CLASSICS DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER 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 OfReg to create Consumer Council and calls for member applications Utilities regulator, OfReg, plans to set up a Consumer Council for the Cayman Islands with the purpose of advising the regulator on issues significantly affecting consumers across the utility sectors. The Council will be made up of six members comprising one representative from each of the five districts in Grand Cayman and one representing Cayman Brac & Little Cayman. The functions of the Consumer Council will include speaking on behalf of consumers by identifying trends in issues affecting them, gathering and reviewing statistical information, and reporting on these trends to OfReg’s CEO, Peter Gough. Grant to fund 3-year species-protection programme The National Trust for the Cayman Islands has received Darwin Plus funds to undertake a three-year project on Grand Cayman to protect endemic threatened species. The Trust, in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, is using the £439,897 (CI$429,311) in funding to help protect the habitats of local wildlife, including the Cayman parrot and the blue iguana. According to a press release issued by the National Trust, the Darwin-funded project, which began in April, will strengthen on-island capacity “to support effective management of the key sites through staff development, community engagement and a trained volunteer/student network, ensuring that the legacy of the grant work goes on far longer than the duration of funding”. Legal aid granted for appeal into governor’s reserved power use The Grand Court has ruled that legal aid should be granted to fund an appeal against a judicial review, which ruled Governor Martyn Roper acted within the scope of his reserved powers by enacting civil partnership legislation in 2020. The ruling to allow legal aid was granted by Justice Alistair Walters. He found that, despite an initial decision which was dismissed earlier this year, the issue at stake was of “general public importance”. Kattina Anglin, who initiated the original legal challenge in September 2020, was granted legal aid to fund the civil dispute after having met the requirements at the time. Since then, she has argued that nothing has changed by way of her ability to fund the case outside of the public purse. When returning his decision, Walters said, “the Plaintiff maintains a significant interest in arguing her position in the litigation and in my view, most importantly, the issues raised on the appeal are of general public importance which are unlikely to be argued unless legal aid is granted”. Steve McIntosh appointed as Cayman Finance CEO The board of directors of Cayman Finance has announced that Steve McIntosh will take up the post of organisation’s chief executive officer from 1 Sept. McIntosh, founder of the CML recruitment company, is replacing Jude Scott, who stepped down at the end of 2021 after seven years at the helm. Vanessa Slowey has been the acting CEO since June this year, while the board carried out what it described as a “comprehensive and competitive selection process”. In a statement announcing the appointment, McIntosh said a desire to make a difference in the community he calls home motivated him to join Cayman Finance. Three arrested for burglary Three men were arrested and charged with burglary over the weekend of 27-28 Aug., police said. A 48-year-old man, of George Town, was arrested on Saturday, 27 Aug., in relation to a burglary at a Shedden Road business in George Town. He was charged with burglary and failing to provide a specimen of urine. He made an initial court appearance and was remanded in custody until 6 Sept., police said. Also, on 27 Aug., the RCIPS said officers responded to a report of a burglary at a business on North Church Street in George Town, where they were given a description of the burglar. They located a 45-year-old Cuban man nearby and subsequently arrested him on suspicion of burglary. He appeared in court on 29 Aug. and was remanded until 31 Aug. In the third case, police arrested a 22-year-old man, of George Town, on 28 Aug., in connection with three separate burglaries at the same business in George Town on 15 Aug., 20 Aug. and 28 Aug. On the last occasion, the man fled from the scene as police arrived. Officers apprehended him after a short foot pursuit, he was arrested and charged with three counts of burglary. First hawksbill turtle nest of year found The first hawksbill turtle nest of the annual nesting season has been found on Little Cayman. The Department of Environment’s Turtle Team Volunteer Coordinator Lorri Lamb and volunteer Marique Cloete found the nest of the critically endangered turtle this week. The DoE says the nesting population of this species in the Cayman Islands is “extremely low in numbers”. Often, only one or two nests are found per year and there are many years with no nests recorded at all, the DoE noted in a social media post. “Hawksbill turtle nests look similar to loggerhead turtle nests so it can be difficult to confirm identification without seeing a hatchling. But luckily, after a nest has hatched and we perform the excavation to count the hatched eggs, we can usually confirm the species,” the department said. Protection efforts for local wildlife, including the blue iguana and Cayman parrot, have been boosted with a CI$429,311 grant from the Darwin Plus fund to the National Trust. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay news in brief cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022cayman compass 3 news N news FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022 NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Dr. Nick Gent, a former senior medical adviser in public health at the UK’s Health Security Agency, will take up the post of Cayman’s new chief medical officer on 3 Oct., the Ministry of Health and Wellness announced Wednesday, 31 Aug. Gent will replace Dr. Autilia Newton, who has been the interim chief medical officer since the departure of Dr. John Lee late last year. Health Minister Sabrina Turner, speaking at a press briefing on 31 Aug., confirmed there had been no local contenders for the position. According to a brief biography included in a statement announcing the appointment, Gent, who received a Commander of the Order of the British Empire award for his services to health protection in 2018, has more than 30 years of public health experience. His most recent post was as senior adviser/ consultant in the UK Health Security Agency. He has also worked as director of public health in district public health services, and served as an executive member for health service authorities within the UK National Health Service, with responsibility for public health, health protection and commissioning a wide range of healthcare services. Gent worked with the European Union, World Health Organization and the World Bank where he advised on legislation concerning public health, human rights, health regulations and other matters. In the statement announcing Gent’s appointment, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said he will be “a welcome addition to the Civil Service, and is preceded by a stellar career history and qualifications that make him well suited for his role as Chief Medical Officer”. Chief Officer Nellie Pouchie said the Ministry of Health and Wellness was “pleased to have attained someone of Dr. Gent’s calibre for the Chief Medical Officer position. We look forward to working with him as the Ministry continues its focus on charting new strategic direction for healthcare in the Cayman Islands, including strengthening Public Health at the national level”. Gent, in the statement, is quoted as saying, “There are many interesting opportunities for the development of health services and the public health system in the Cayman Islands and I am looking forward to working with the many highly skilled and experienced colleagues throughout the country to develop these opportunities.” Department will become an independent entity NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s Public Health department will be separating from the Health Services Authority, to become an independent body, Minister of Health Sabrina Turner has announced. Turner, speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday morning, 31 Aug., said Cabinet had approved “in principle” for her ministry to develop a business case to reform Public Health, which currently falls under the umbrella of the HSA. Those reforms would include Public Health becoming a separate entity, she said. The minister said that, while the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted a need for Public Health to be independent from the HSA – which is one of the government’s statutory authorities and also a health service provider which runs the Cayman Islands Hospital and district health clinics – there had been reports dating back to 2008 supporting such a move. Asked why is was necessary to separate the Public Health department, interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Autilia Newton said that the main reason was because, as the HSA is a service provider, this means that most of the information gathered by Public Health is directly from that body. “The issue is that you have your Public Health team sitting with a health service provider, and so the collection of information is limited to the population which accesses that provider. What we need for Public Health to work is to have it outside of all providers, and getting the information from everyone,” she said. She added, “If you look around the world, Public Health works at its best when it is independent.” Accessing data Both she and Turner highlighted the importance of collecting and accessing data on a wide variety of diseases and conditions among Cayman’s population, so as to form appropriate policies and responses. While the 2021 Census included some questions on health matters – such as disabilities and diabetes – that shed light on their prevalence, and the HSA gathers statistics on the cases that its physicians see, the collection of data on most conditions and diseases locally is not very comprehensive as it often does not include statistics from private sector health providers. In a bid to address this, the health officials at the media briefing said the Ministry of Health has hired epidemiologist Rachel Corbett, who led the UK’s international travel risk assessment team which helped form government policy on travelling during the pandemic. Corbett said at the briefing that there are plans to expand the collection of data on a variety of health issues, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic heart disease and others, to determine the prevalence and formulate responses to reduce it. Key indicators of health She said that next year, there would be a repeat of a Cayman-wide survey, called STEPS, which in 2012 gave a detailed insight into key indicators of health on the islands. These included information on tobacco use, alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, history of raised blood glucose, history of raised blood pressure, history of raised total cholesterol, lifestyle advice, family history of non-communicable diseases and health screening. Corbett said this survey would not only give Public Health a snapshot of the current state of health and certain habits in Cayman, but would also compare the situation to a decade ago. Turner noted that Public Health’s role extends “far, far beyond” the prevention of the spread of diseases like COVID, flu and monkeypox. She said the department is also concerned with being proactive about preventing non-communicable diseases – such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes – and part of tackling such diseases was having access to accurate data about their prevalence. While certain communicable diseases, like dengue, COVID or monkeypox, are considered ‘notifiable’, in that a physician or laboratory is obliged to report any cases they encounter to Public Health, there is no mandate for the medical community to report non-communicable diseases. In Cayman, for example, there is a cancer registry that tracks the prevalence of various cancers, but it is voluntary. Newton said the planned enhanced tracking of conditions and diseases in Cayman would be done on a district- by-district basis and would be fully anonymised, stating that reports on individual patients would not be required. Public Health to separate from HSA Health Minister Sabrina Turner has announced plans to break off Public Health from the Health Services Authority. - Photo: Norma Connolly New chief medical officer announced Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent The Health Services Authority, as a service provider, runs the Cayman Islands Hospital and district clinics. 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Economic collapse (5) 4 Two successive lines of verse (7) 8 Item in auction sale (3) 9 As it were (2,2,5) 10 Wild marjoram (7) 11 Once more (5) 13 Prize of victory (6) 15 Disfigure (6) 18 Semi-aquatic furry animal (5) 19 To put it briefly (2,1,4) 21 Reach maturity (4,2,3) 23 Fruiting spike of cereal (3) 24 Compunction (7) 25 Index (5) DOWN 1 Summon into action (4,3) 2 Not more than (2,3,4) 3 Plantain lily (5) 4 A fibre used for textiles (6) 5 Treat superciliously (7) 6 Be situated (3) 7 Removed (5) 12 In a state of decline (2,1,3,3) 14 Give shelter to (7) 16 Confirm (7) 17 Closing scene (6) 18 Take place (5) 20 Thoroughly proficient (5) 22 Silent (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17099 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 17099 ACROSS: 1 Crash, 4 Couplet, 8 Lot, 9 So to speak, 10 Oregano, 11 Again, 13 Trophy, 15 Deface, 18 Otter, 19 In a word, 21 Come of age, 23 Ear, 24 Remorse, 25 Table. DOWN: 1 Call out, 2 At the most, 3 Hosta, 4 Cotton, 5 Upstage, 6 Lie, 7 Taken, 12 At a low ebb, 14 Harbour, 16 Endorse, 17 Finale, 18 Occur, 20 Adept, 22 Mum. Boggy Sand seawall planning approval quashed It’s important too for landowners to know that this protection is in place. It is also not to be misrepresented. The National Conservation Council and Department of Environment only ever make directions to planning with due cause and not some flimsy fancy as some might have you believe. You will still see development and growth; hopefully, just far more resilient and sustainable that enhances the quality of life of people who live and invest in these Islands. – Melanie Carmichael Finally! Let’s hope the NCC holds the Central Planning Authority to account. Build back greener. – Clare Marshall An important ‘chapter’ in our nation building journey, even if decades late. – Mario Ebanks Finally, someone can tell them something they CAN’T approve. DoE should have the same authority. – Darlene Glidden Now let’s tear down the rest of the seawalls that are destroying Seven Mile Beach. – Della J. Watler-Marte Excellent! Now I hope they use this decision to the best of their ability and not be swayed to look the other way! – Kenesha P. Hurlston-Anderson Bravo! At last a chance to keep your island as it is meant to be – for you, not those who want to change it all to suit them, no matter the cost. – Gillian Rudd The rest along Seven Mile Beach need to be torn down too. – Charlene Rivers I hope they put a member of the DoE/NCC as members of planning board. – Halcy Lofters Exactly. Why destroy an island for a few to benefit? – Elizabeth Joan Hyde This is wonderful news, and a huge relief. Things are looking up for the environment. – Anna Russell-Knee More cars than ever on school commutes It should be MANDATORY that all school children take the bus! – Delene M Hurlston I wish they’d focus on having more buses [for commuting], with timetables; it would fix the problem. [And] not destroy land so more cars can go faster creating more accidents! They all end up at the same bottleneck so it’s not fixing this problem. – Sarah Curtis Government school buses need air conditioning. When it’s raining the kids [are] stifling, and when it’s sunny outside they’re melting. – Jan Taylor In my Chicago suburb, all students had to take the bus, even if you lived next to the school. This would greatly relieve Cayman traffic and main artery bottlenecks. – Terri Parker What are parents thoughts on staggered school start times, i.e., outside of morning rush hour and closer to end of work day? Were any such proposals looked at in the past? – Sustainable Cayman Economist: Cayman needs more income distribution than growth If it was easier for someone to possibly bring their family to Cayman and support them in Cayman and not out of the country that would solve that issue. It’s too expensive to migrate to Cayman with family, and the facts are most expats come here for better paying jobs to support their family in a economy that’s not so great, so most of the money will leave Cayman. – Dominique Scott Oh, you mean a progressive tax system instead of the regressive tax system we have now? This lady makes so much sense, it’s painful to read, knowing how much we could improve life for so many here if only our leaders would actually absorb and implement what she is saying. More years of the same old socio-economic polarisation will continue without real courageous change. – Troy Leacock Would love to know what she means by better distribution. – Tony Hugh Nothing is wrong with greed. However, if not executed with some equality, then one becomes greedy with all the ills. – Selvin Richardson Marla Dukharan for Premier! – Cyndy Ebanks The recent unsettled weather has offered opportunities for dramatics shots of the sky. Heavy rains this week led to this foreboding yet artistic photo of clouds along the coast off North West Point Road in West Bay. Compass journalist Norma Connolly caught this unusual cloud cover that could be right out of a painting. Art in the skies pic of the week What they’re saying Online cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022Deputy Premier Chris Saunders RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s population now stands at 78,554, an increase of 10.5% over the number of people counted in the October 2021 Census, Deputy Premier Chris Saunders said. Saunders, speaking on the 31 Aug. episode of the Cayman Compass Facebook show The Resh Hour, said the statistic, revealed in the upcoming Economics and Statistics Office’s Spring Labour Force Report, has given government “concern” especially when looking at infrastructure demands. He said Cabinet has authorised the release of the report, which shows that Cayman’s population has increased from 71,105 in October to 78,554. “That’s an increase of 7,449,” he said, adding “that is a very big jump in a very short period of time”. He said government recognises that there were seasonal contributory factors to the population increase, such as accounting firms bringing in additional staff for their busy period and tourism picking up following easing of COVID travel restrictions, leading to the hiring of extra employees to deal with the growing number of travellers. Impact on housing With more people on island, demand for housing has grown over the last few years, Saunders said, and Cayman has seen an increasing number of residences being converted from long-term rentals into Airbnb short-term accommodations, adversely impacting prices. He said tourists utilising domestic room stock in the Airbnb market means fewer properties for residents to rent, and therefore less supply and more demand. This, in turn, leads to higher rental prices, he added. Housing Minister Jay Ebanks is committed to addressing the pressure for accommodation, Saunders said, and Premier Wayne Panton has created a housing taskforce to have the “very difficult conversations” about how to increase the supply of homes. This is happening in tandem with Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan’s mission to increase traditional tourism room stock, like hotels, he added. Saunders said hotels are “long- term sustainable development”, as they creates jobs during the construction phase and then when they open for business. “From an economic standpoint, that’s what we should be encouraging more of,” he added. Caymanian under- employment a growing issue The deputy premier, who is also labour minister, said the ESO's labour survey also pointed to another area of growing concern: That of Caymanian under-employment. He said the survey found that overall Caymanian unemployment dropped to 5.1%, but this, Saunders said, is “still too high”. “It’s above the natural rate of unemployment for us, so we need to get that number down,” he added. The deputy premier lamented that 905 Caymanians were under- employed and that has to be corrected through a system that provides opportunities. When it comes to accessing jobs through avenues like the JobsCayman portal, Saunders said, Cayman is not where he wants it to be, “but we are getting there”. Immigration, he said, is an “emotive” issue, but with the permanent residence point system review in progress and upgrades to the Workforce Opportunity and Residency Cayman portal, the balance can be achieved. “As I’ve often said, success of this country was never built on immigration. What it was built on was integration, people coming here and becoming a part of the fabric of the community,” he said. However, he noted that there are “little pockets being built up”, creating an us-versus- them atmosphere within the community. Travel Cayman staff redeployed When it comes to the 87 staffers impacted by the disbanding of Travel Cayman, Saunders said, all but 15 have been seconded to central government. He said, as finance minister, he has agreed in principle to continuing to fund the Travel Cayman staffers when they are absorbed into central government departments. “We have a lot of vacancies within government [and] we think some of those vacancies they can easily fill,” he said, adding that he believes, based on the work that the staffers have produced in Travel Cayman, “they’re going to fit very well in once they’ve been given that opportunity”. He said they will all be paid at the same level they were at Travel Cayman. Saunders credited Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and Chief Officer Wesley Howell for actively seeking out positions for the Travel Cayman team to fill. He said he believes all legislators, including the Opposition, will support additional funds to keep the workers employed when the request comes to Finance Committee. Travel Cayman, he said, was costing around $1 million a month in terms of overall costs, but as some of the staff have already moved on, the costs will drop to “a few hundred thousands dollars a month”. “I can tell you, for those people who have proven themselves and have delivered for this country, that’s a very small thank you note for them,” he added. Population grows by 10.5% in less than a year “That’s an increase of 7,449. That is a very big jump in a very short period of time.” Cayman’s current population, according to the Spring Labour Force Survey 78,554 Interview: Chris Saunders cayman compass 5 news N news FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022 But meteorologists caution: ‘It only takes one storm’ ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season marked its halfway point with its slowest start in 30 years, but predictions for above-average storm activity are still forecast. Since the season began on 1 June, there have been just four named storms and one hurricane. The unusual lull in storm activity resulted in no named storms developing during August, only the fifth time this has happened since 1950, according to Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach. Initial forecasts, issued on 24 May by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, called for between 14 and 20 named storms, of which six to 10 were expected to strengthen into hurricanes. Of those storms, forecasters say three to five could develop into major hurricanes – at Category 3 or higher. With three months to go, it is not clear whether the season will live up to predictions. A sluggish start to the season does not necessarily mean the rest of the season will follow suit. Throughout August, there were several tropical waves which developed off the western coast of Africa and made their way across the Atlantic Ocean, with some entering the Caribbean. However, none of those strengthened into tropical storms, which are marked by sustained winds of between 39 miles per hour and 63 mph. Cayman Islands National Weather Service forecaster Gilbert Miller told the Cayman Compass a central high-pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean has been responsible for curtailing storm development. “It’s called the Bermuda-Azores High, and it doesn’t typically extend this far south,” said Miller. “However, it has developed fairly strong this year and has been preventing cyclogenesis, and has not been allowing storms to strengthen or develop.” Forecasters expect above-average season Despite the lack of storm activity to date, forecasters have maintained their calls for an above- average hurricane season. In its revised mid-season forecast issued on 4 Aug., the NHC said, “atmospheric and oceanic conditions still favor an above-normal 2022 Atlantic hurricane season”. With 90 days to go before the official 30 Nov. end of the 2022 season, it is possible that the remaining predicted named storms could develop – potentially up to 16. According to the NHC, September marks not only the halfway point, but 10 Sept. is regarded as the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, per their climatological mean, which runs from 1991 to 2020. The last year in the range (2020) marked the most active Atlantic Hurricane season on record. ‘One storm makes an active season’ “The high-pressure system has begun to ease up, and as the [NHC] has predicted, storm development and intensification is very likely,” Miller said earlier this week. He added, “The season might have gotten off to a slow start, but it only takes one storm for it to be an active season for us.” As the Atlantic hurricane season enters its second half, data suggests that storm development often shifts from the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern and central Caribbean Sea – which means less warning time for residents in Cayman and neighbouring countries. “Now is not the time to let your guard down,” said Miller. “We need to keep an eye on the horizon because you never know when a storm will come our way.” Radar offline Meanwhile, Cayman’s Doppler weather radar was offline during the daytime this week, as workers carried out repairs to damage caused by last year’s Tropical Storm Grace. It was operating at nights. The weather radar went down last year due to a combination of issues related to the back-up generator, the damaged dome, and a failed radar part. Back-up generator service was restored in June 2022 and the radar was repaired in July 2022, though work on the radar dome continued. The National Weather Service said on Thursday that it expected the radar to be back online over the weekend. 2022 hurricane season Least active start in three decades The storm-damaged Kearney Gomez Doppler Weather Radar is being repaired. – Photo: Taneos Ramsay For the latest information on storm activity in the Cayman Islands, as well as information on how to prepare for hurricane season, visit the ALT Storm Centre.Your Health Promotion, Prevention & Positive Intervention Supplement PUBLISHED FRIDAY, 21 OCTOBER Your Health - Promotion, Prevention & Positive Intervention Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference 20-22 October 2022, at The Ritz-Carlton. Distributed in the Cayman Compass, online at caymancompass.com, and at the healthcare conference. Topics in the supplement will be relevant to: • The medical community • Wellness & fitness practitioners & groups • Government entities • Insurance providers • Pharmacies • Spas • Human resources managers • Other businesses aiming to reach a wide demographic Booking Deadlines: Sponsored content: Monday, 19 September Display ads: Monday, 26 September sales@compassmedia.ky or 949-5111 cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022DEVELOPING Outstanding Leaders Annikki Hill joined Cayman First as Vice President of the Group Insurance Services division in August 2022. She is responsible for the company’s health insurance and employee benefits offerings in the Cayman market. Prior to joining Cayman First, Ms. Hill served as Country Manager and In-house Legal Counsel at International Healthcare Solutions, general agent in the Cayman Islands for Generali Worldwide. A qualified attorney, Ms. Hill was called to the Bar of England and Wales as a Barrister-at-Law by the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn in July 2007 and admitted to practise as an Attorney-at-Law of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands in May 2008. She has served the Cayman community in positions such as Deputy Chair of the Labour Appeals Tribunal; Chair of the Health Insurance Standing Committee of the Cayman Islands Insurance Association; and as a Director on the R3 Cayman Foundation Board. Cayman First announces new management appointments Find out more here Erwin Freeland Manager - P&C Claims Erwin Freeland was appointed Manager of P&C Claims in July 2022 after serving for two years as the department’s Assistant Manager where he strengthened Cayman First’s initiatives in technology and the customer experience. In this new role, he is responsible for the department’s daily operations, litigation, disaster recovery, staff development and vision. With over 25 years of claims experience in Florida & Cayman, Mr. Freeland has a track record of maintaining high levels of performance in the Property & Casualty space and brings his coaching, mentoring and technical skills to an already dynamic and passionate team. Annikki R. Hill Vice President - Group Insurance Services cayman compass 8 FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022 JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky It’s Sunday night in Cayman. Do you: Drink the six-pack of Ironshore you bought that afternoon from the gas station? Flick through Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and select from almost any movie ever made? Check out the new Brad Pitt blockbuster at the movie theatre? Right now, only the first two are possible. Despite far-reaching changes to Sunday trading laws that have liberalised liquor sales, the screening of ‘R’ rated movies remains banned for now. Following inquires from the Compass, bosses at the Camana Bay Cinema said they would like to see the rules relaxed, but it is not fundamental to their business. Corey Randolph, manager at the theatre, said there are often enquiries from movie-goers who wonder why they can’t see their film of choice on a Sunday. The Sunday Trading Act prohibits film exhibition on Sundays for content deemed unsuitable for children 17 years and under, which are films rated by the Motion Picture Association of America as R-rated. Blockbusters like ‘Bullet Train’ – which was recently showing Monday-Saturday at the theatre – and upcoming films including Olivia Wilde’s highly anticipated psychological thriller ‘Don’t Worry Darling’, are among those impacted. “It is unfortunate that our customer base is prohibited from the flexibility of viewing specific content due to the day of the week,” said Randolph. “The cinema would welcome any changes from government to this law, as it would give customers a wider range of viewing options, especially those for whom Sunday is their only day available to attend a film.” A Compass poll on our website suggests support for allowing all types of movies to be shown on a Sunday, with 86% in support. The comments on our Facebook page were more evenly split. “Hasn’t enough changed already or shall we just call ourselves little USA now?” questioned Taura Ebanks. Paul Reynolds argued that banning certain movies on a Sunday smacks of “performative religion” rather than a genuine relationship with God. “If R rated is bad to watch on Sunday it’s bad to watch any day. Or it’s OK to watch any day,” he wrote. Lorna Whitelocke-Angus felt the decision was best left to the individual. “Don’t go, it is your choice,” she wrote. The genesis of Cayman’s R-rated movie ban is the Christian emphasis on keeping Sunday as a day of rest. Elements of commerce are still outlawed on Sunday, including some retail. Those businesses that can open, including the cinema, do so under the terms of an exemption list within the Sunday Trading Act. R-rated movies are not necessarily especially graphic but contain some content deemed by censors as ‘adult’. Of the top 10 movies of all-time, as ranked by the Internet Movie Database, four – ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘The Godfather I’, ‘The Godfather II’ and ‘Schindler’s List’ – are ‘R’ rated. “It is unfortunate that our customer base is prohibited from the flexibility of viewing specific content due to the day of the week.” Corey Randolph, Camana Bay Cinema manager Sunday movie ban divides opinion Under the Sunday Trading Act, cinemas in Cayman have not been allowed to show films with R ratings for years. – Photo: Taneos Ramsaycayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2022Next >