cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 11-17 November 2022 Stiffer penalties proposed for gambling offences Page 5 Cayman Airways launches direct LAX route Page 10 In photos: Cayman Islands Triathlon Page 30 Prices go through the roof Interest rates send mortgages skyrocketing, as inflation impacts food costs Pages 24-26 Cayman teen speaks at House of Commons Page 20 Runner-up to represent Cayman at Miss Universe Page 7Matinees (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. 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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 Smooth with a wave height of fewer than 2 feet. WINDS Light and variable. 89°F HIGH 78°F LOW cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2022 2nd man charged with murder of retired prison officer Eric Brian Williams Soto has been charged with the shooting death of retired prison officer Harry Elliott. During a Summary Court appearance on Wednesday, 9 Nov., Williams Soto appeared via video link, charged with one count of murder and one count of possession of an illegal firearm. No pleas were entered and the matter was transferred to the Grand Court. Elliott was shot and killed in a commercial building along School Road, George Town on 25 April, in what police say was a robbery gone wrong. Williams Soto is the second person to have been charged with Elliott’s death. In May, Justin Jackson was apprehended after leading police on a days- long manhunt. Jackson and Williams Soto were both charged in relation to a loaded firearm which was recovered from the abandoned vehicle. Jackson was charged with Elliott’s murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm, to which he pleaded not guilty. Williams Soto denied that initial firearms charge. At that time, he had not been charged with the murder. Both men remain in custody and are scheduled for court on Friday, 11 Nov. Four held for ganja importation Three Jamaican men and a West Bay resident appeared in court on Monday, 7 Nov., on ganja- importation charges after police seized more than 500 pounds of ganja in a weekend drug bust. The three Jamaicans, ages 35, 42 and 57, were remanded into custody, while the West Bay man, 40, was granted bail. All four are expected back in court on 6 Dec. A police statement on the incident, which did not release the men’s names, stated that shortly after midnight on Saturday, 5 Nov., while on patrol, the crew of a Cayman Islands Coast Guard vessel observed a fishing canoe-type vessel approaching the northern coastline of West Bay. The three men in the vessel attempted to evade the officers after spotting the Coast Guard, but the boat was stopped and brought under control. A search of the suspects’ vessel uncovered several large packages containing ganja, and the three Jamaican nationals on board were arrested on suspicion of ganja importation. The RCIPS said officers then conducted searches of the shore in the vicinity, and the fourth man, who was in possession of several fuel drums, was discovered and arrested. Dirt bike death ruled misadventure An inquest into the death of motorcyclist Virgil Morgan Bush, who passed away after falling from an off-road dirt bike into oncoming traffic in 2019, has found the man died as a result of misadventure. The jury at the Coroner’s Court heard on 7 Nov. that initial tests on Bush at the Cayman Islands Hospital did not find internal bleeding, but his condition deteriorated and he died after suffering multiple cardiac arrests and internal bleeding from damaged organs, the coroner’s jury heard. The inquest heard that on the night of 5 Aug. 2019, Bush, 57, was test-riding his neighbour’s blue dirt bike along Watercourse Road, West Bay, as part of ongoing repairs. “This motorcycle was an off-road bike so it had no tail- lights, headlights or even brakes, and should not have been on the road,” independent accident reconstructionist and former police officer Collin Redden told the court. According to Redden, Bush was travelling in his lane when he fell off the motorcycle and slid into the opposite lane towards an oncoming car. “He did not make contact with the car but the bike did,” said Redden. Bush had a cut to the left side of his head and complained of a pain in his right hip, but was still able to walk when he arrived in hospital, Dr. Brandon Bernard told the court. Bernard said he conducted a bedside ultrasound but found no signs of internal bleeding. An X-ray later revealed that Bush had a broken hip, prompting a request for a full body scan. His condition deteriorated, and he suffered a number of cardiac arrests and was resuscitated several times, Bernard said, adding, “However, in consultation with surgeons and other doctors, it was decided that he would not be a likely candidate for surgery as it was unlikely he would survive.” A pathology report later revealed Bush’s spleen and other organs were damaged in the accident, which led to significant internal bleeding. “He lost 30% of his blood, but this was due to internal bleeding; in normal circumstances anything over 25% is certain death,” said pathologist Dr. Shravana Jyoti. Public Health: No cause for alarm in Brac dengue case The Public Health Department has confirmed one case of dengue on Cayman Brac, but says there is no outbreak of the mosquito- borne illness on any of the three islands, and as such, there is no cause for concern. In a statement issued Saturday 5 Nov., public health addressed concerns from the community around the possible spread of the disease. “There has been no outbreak of dengue on Cayman Brac, nor has there been any community transmission of the disease on any of the three islands to date this year,” said public health in its statement. According to public health, the patient with dengue contracted the disease prior to their arrival in Cayman. “There is no cause for concern,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent. “We are monitoring the incident and will keep everyone abreast of the situation. The prevention of any, and all mosquito borne illnesses is an important public health objective. Everyone can play their part in reducing their risk from mosquito borne illnesses.” The disease is transmitted from infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are prevalent across all three islands. Armed robbers hold up restaurant Two armed masked men robbed Latin Taste Restaurant in George Town on Wednesday morning, 9 Nov. Police said the hold-up at the restaurant at the junction of Shedden Road and Mary Street occurred around 8:30am, when the two masked men wearing hoodies entered the premises, brandishing what appeared to be handguns. “The men pointed the handguns at the employees at the restaurant and demanded money. They made off on foot in the direction of Tigress Street, with a quantity of cash,” police said in a statement. No one was injured in the robbery and no shots were fired. news in brief Police and the Coast Guard intercepted this vessel and seized more than 500 pounds of ganja. - Photo: RCIPS Virgil Morgan BushFOR THOSE SEEKING THE EXTRAORDINARY, THERE IS ONLY FIN. fingrandcayman fin.cayman Annex Residences priced from USD 775,000 Penthouse Residences priced from USD 3,700,000 345.526.7777 fin@fingrandcayman.com cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 20221234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Small light boat (5) 4 Cast a spell on (7) 8 Manage (3) 9 Without conditions attached (2-7) 10 Take pleasure freely (7) 11 Regard as a god (5) 13 Strongly constructed (6) 15 Proverb (6) 18 Fabric with glossy surface (5) 19 A substitute (5-2) 21 Because of inaction (2,7) 23 A small deer (3) 24 Deep regret for error (7) 25 Capacious (5) DOWN 1 Narrow passage of water (7) 2 Absolutely certain (2,2,5) 3 Conclusive (5) 4 Wickerwork container (6) 5 Materialistic (7) 6 Silvery-white metal (3) 7 Arctic sledge dog (5) 12 For the purpose of (2,5,2) 14 Doomed (4,3) 16 In a thick mass (7) 17 Put on (6) 18 Restrained (5) 20 To change in character (5) 22 Barrier made by beaver (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17159 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 17159 ACROSS: 1 Skiff, 4 Bewitch, 8 Run, 9 No-strings, 10 Indulge, 11 Deify, 13 Sturdy, 15 Byword, 18 Satin, 19 Stand-in, 21 By default, 23 Roe, 24 Remorse, 25 Roomy. DOWN: 1 Straits, 2 In no doubt, 3 Final, 4 Basket, 5 Worldly, 6 Tin, 7 Husky, 12 In order to, 14 Done for, 16 Densely, 17 Assume, 18 Sober, 20 Alter, 22 Dam. Protection of starfish needs more than a sign Why not hand out a leaflet to everyone on board an inbound plane or cruise ship explaining what to do and what not to do and the penalties for breaking these laws. They can be handed out with the landing cards. – Allan James Holdsworth Did the reader's friend try to educate the little jerk about the starfish? We need to educate our- selves so we can educate those people to stop them from doing this to the poor starfish. – Wanda Viscount I know what I would have done had I witnessed this! – Mary DiStefano Joseph Better yet – save the environment and have environmental rules scrolling on the big screen at the airport and QR code for an agreement. We had a lot of electronic documents to travel with during COVID and this would be a simple ‘I agree’ e-document. – Pamela Webster Airport redevelopment plan underway Didn’t we just build this new airport? Why was none of this taken into consideration then? – Penny Bird Keep up the good work! Also more parking spaces. – Anthony Pandohie My mortgage has doubled and a lettuce costs $7, what’s going on? Sad, so sad. It’s not the best time to take a holiday in the island. – Jean Flores Worldwide problem. – Sarah Curtis Butter is in double-digits now. And a dozen eggs is almost $8 in Foster’s. – Navado O Brown What happens to all the wasted fresh food people just can’t afford to buy? There will be more and more soon. Wouldn’t you think they would reduce a lettuce so people can afford it rather than throw it away? A tin of deodorant was selling at $13 and change last week. Soon be smelly and hungry. – Pamela Smith Minimum wage still $6. – Brian Bodden All wages are being sup- pressed. Meanwhile, company profits going up. Same old story. – Michael Burtt Public outcry as glass recycling suspended Sad, considering glass is one of the most recycled materials. – Mike Friederichs Utter madness. – Paul Brazier What is being done to protect our marine life, now that tourists will once again flock to our island? This week my friend was visiting Starfish Point, when she observed a family of tourists in the sea. The teenage son was picking up the starfish, and tossing them up in the air, catching them, and throwing them from hand to hand, much the way a juggler would toss items in the air. She immediately told him (in a non-confrontational way) that he must stop doing this. The starfish are not to be removed from the water. The young man’s father became angry and told her, “What is the big deal? They take them and cut off their points so they can grow more starfish!” She told him it was against the law. However, she backed away immediately as this man was visibly agitated and she did not know how he would further react. Cayman protects the blue iguanas, the stingrays, parrots, and we need to also protect the waters in this beach area. Thousands of dollars are spent for people to travel here to observe everything Cayman has to offer, and that includes our marine life. A sign is not enough. We need a Caymanian to be present at this area, to not only educate, but to explain the consequences that will befall anyone that molests our marine life. Starfish Point is having more and more tourists now, especially since Rum Point is still closed. Janice Sanders I write concerning your recent article regarding the national ID card bill [Cayman Compass 28 Oct. 2022] to be considered by Parliament in December. Has there been a public consultation regarding the remit/ possibilities of these ID cards? Specifically regarding their ability and/or intention to also provide/ track (along with basic ID) the health information of the holder, and/or the financial information of the holder? In particular to the second concern, is there an effort to backdoor a centrally controlled digital currency by way of these ID cards? At the very least, the public should know the true limits of these cards and perhaps preferably be enabled to vote by way of referendum as to what we are comfortable with as regards these cards’ capabilities. A national ID card is, at its core, a very good idea. Oftentimes, the most sincere and small effort to do good can unravel and grow into a terrible error. It would behoove those involved to consider exactly the scope and capabilities of these cards should they come into general circulation. While most of the general public may not consider the possibility of their health or financial information being [included] on these cards as a negative, there is a concern that this is simply due to lack of knowledge. And very little good comes from a lack of knowledge. As an example, it is easy to restrict your purchases of gas if you’ve bought too much gas this month – all the government would have to do is look at your digital currency ID card purchases and see if you’ve bought as little as they’d like. Same goes for health. Your government may not like your purchases of beer this week, so they can prevent you purchasing fries. Further, a government can easily tell you to spend a certain amount this week or your money will be deleted from your card. This is all very, very possible with centralised digital monitoring. The first step is a centralised digital ID card with, per the article, “additional data” also stored on the card’s chip. The public need to know what these cards can possibly do. If the public determine that it’s fine, so be it. But they should know. Keith Doyle Readers are calling for more efforts to be made to protect starfish. - Photo: File What information will be stored on ID cards? Protection of starfish needs more than a sign What they’re saying Online Letters to the editor cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2022RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Government has published proposed amendments to the Gambling Act which could see those convicted digging deeper into their pockets to pay hefty fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. The new fines are part of proposed changes contained in the Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which was gazetted this week. Governor Martyn Roper, speaking on a June episode of the Cayman Compass weekly talkshow ‘The Resh Hour’, made it clear stiffer penalties were needed to control illegal gambling, which has been linked to crimes ranging from robberies to murder, like the shooting death of Harry Elliott. Elliott, 62, a retired prison officer, was fatally shot on 25 April. His death was linked to a numbers game. Premier Wayne Panton, in a statement on 9 Nov. on the publication of the amendments and the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order, 2022, said the proposed changes are in line with government’s efforts to foster safer communities in the Cayman Islands, and to disincentivise illegal gambling. “Over the past few years, our community has seen a sharp increase in the rate of violent crimes linked to illegal gambling, including armed robberies and murder. The rising crime, and hidden societal implications of gambling in general, are enabled through the current legislation that provides little to no deterrence for one-off or repeat offenders,” he said. The fine for offences under section 4 of the current act – including keeping a common gaming house – is $400 or 12 months imprisonment. An offence under section 5 of the current act – committing an act of illegal gambling – is a $10 fine or two months imprisonment, he pointed out. According to a statement from the Officer of the Premier, the proposed new legislation adds gambling-related crimes to the Proceeds of Crime Act (2020 Revision). “Currently, Schedule 1 of the Proceeds of Crime Act mirrors Schedule 2 of the UK legislation, with slight changes on where gambling is regulated. By adding gambling to Schedule 1 of the POCA, it makes all gambling offences a lifestyle offence,” it said. This amendment to the act, the statement said, will also allow for courts to make confiscation orders in cases where a person is convicted of being involved in illegal gambling. “While there is an obvious link between illegal gambling and the various types of serious crimes resulting from organised gambling, less obvious are the costs to the law enforcement and the wider society,” Panton said, adding that the social costs at an individual and family level are sometimes referred to as ‘hidden costs’ because they are often misunderstood or overlooked. “It is therefore imperative that we enact legislative measures to deter gambling and the long-term effects it has on the health and safety of our communities, our integrity as people, and the jurisdiction’s reputation for good governance and upholding the rule of law,” Panton added. Proposed changes Under the proposed changes, penalties for a range of general gambling offences – including the use and ownership of premises for gambling, the publication of lottery numbers and dealing with money resulting from gambling activities – could see fines raised from $400 to $10,000 and for the term of imprisonment to increase from one year to four years. It proposes increasing the current $10 fine to $2,500, and the prison term from two months to six months, for the offence of being found in a common gaming house. For the offence of taking part in a public lottery, the legislation proposes raising the fine from $10 to $2,500 and the prison term from two months to six months. It also proposes a significant jump in the penalty for keeping a common gaming house, with the fine to be raised from $100 to $20,000 and the prison term to increase from six months to four years. Similarly, with conducting or taking part in a lottery, the legislation is proposing the fine go up from $100 to $20,000 and the prison term to increase from three months to four years. Gambling activities Under the proposed changes, any gambling activity involving selling tickets, assembling for lottery results or paying for lottery tickets, could see fines increasing from $40 to $5,000 and the prison term going up from two months to one year. The bill is open for public comment and is expected to be tabled at the next sitting of Parliament during the week of 5 Dec. Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne, commenting on the proposed increase in penalties, said it will assist the RCIPS tremendously. “The increased sanctions and fines for a range of illegal gambling offences contained in the new Bill will act as a very strong deterrent to disincentivise those persons that engage in illegal gambling across the Cayman Islands,” he said. “This relates to sellers of illegal lottery numbers and persons engaged in illegal gambling and betting, including persons who support or purchase lottery numbers for illegal lotteries. Illegal gambling in the Cayman Islands, in all of its forms, mainly occurs at street level and is very visible in our local communities impacting our most vulnerable,” the commissioner added. The enhanced powers and sanctions provided will assist the police in tackling this problem and going after the proceeds of illegal gambling, and confiscating assets obtained from the criminal proceeds of illegal gambling and betting, he said. “There is a significant amount of serious crime associated with illegal gambling in the Cayman Islands including assaults, robberies, intimidation, and more recently there has been a related murder. “Illegal gambling in all of its forms has a very unwelcome and pervasive influence on the most vulnerable in our communities, and this Bill sends a very strong message to all those engaged in this criminal activity,” Byrne added. The government previously drafted the Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which set out to improve and strengthen the legislation, specifically in the area of increasing penalties for illegal gambling. While the Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was published, the bill was never placed on the Order Paper to be debated in Parliament, and therefore provisions in the current legislation remain in effect. “The rising crime, and hidden societal implications of gambling in general, are enabled through the current legislation that provides little to no deterrence for one-off or repeat offenders.” Premier Wayne Panton Premier Wayne PantonCommissioner of Police Derek Byrne cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2022 5 Stiffer penalties proposed under new gambling lawGovernment considering beach vendor policy Tourism Minister: Situation at Public Beach ‘out of control’ RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Even as government works through how best to deal with traders on the beach, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan says, in his view, vending should not be allowed on Public Beach. Speaking on the Cayman Compass weekly talkshow ‘The Resh Hour’ on 2 Nov., Bryan said the situation is already “out of control” and government has a proposal to address the issue. “All the government members are going to get together to look over [the proposal] to decide how we’re going to handle the trade down there, because, unfortunately, a lot of it is unregulated,” he said. Last month, the Compass was told a long- awaited policy for issuing permits to vendors on Public Beach should be in place by early next year. Government said it would issue a limited number of licences to qualifying traders to allow them to operate at the site on Seven Mile Beach, providing they meet certain conditions. A proposed new policy has been submitted to Cabinet for approval and should be in place next year. Bryan said the existing policy, which was established under the previous Progressives-led administration, was to license some people to vend there, but the onset of COVID, followed by a change in government, left that “up in the air”. He said government has not made a decision on the matter yet, and has to review the proposal before it. Bryan said the issue involves not only the tourism ministry, but also both the ministries of lands and commerce, so the government as a whole has to come together to make a policy decision. “We all are in agreement, it can’t stay the same,” he said. Public Beach vs commerce He said, in his opinion, Public Beach belongs to Caymanians and commercial enterprise has no place there. “I do not think it’s a good idea to have commerce at the Public Beach and I know that’s going to be controversial. I’m prepared and I am ready for that controversy because I think the Public Beach is supposed to be for the Caymanian people. It’s not supposed to be for encouraging cruise passengers to [use it],” he said. Bryan explained that on a busy weekday when residents are at work, he believes it is fine for visitors to be there. However, he added, the question is what happens on a holiday, when three ships are in port, and the beach is packed with tourists. Then a Caymanian mom and her kids cannot find a place to sit, to enjoy the beach, he said. “The question is if you allow trade there, where does it stop? That’s a public beach,” he said, adding if vendors are allowed to operate there, would be they given permission to trade at Governors Beach, Smith Barcadere and other beaches across the island. He said the problem with beach vending was exacerbated by the closure of popular tourist venues places like Calico Jack’s and Royal Palms, which has created a vacuum. Additionally, Bryan said the previous administration had discussed licensing vendors, but nothing had been done. Now, he said, government has to deal with this and it is “part of our priority list”. Solution needed He said a presentation on the issue would be made to government. Bryan said a potential solution could be allowing vending temporarily on Public Beach and incentivising the business community to find a way to make money, similar to Calico Jack’s and Royal Palms or something comparable, “because we don’t really want to take away the people’s beach”. “I think that if you open that door for any extended period of time, it is something we’re going to regret in the future. That’s my personal opinion,” Bryan said. He said he understands that the vendors need to earn a living, and it is a balancing act for government. Bryan said this is a case of “we have to decide what we want”. “I need the public’s feedback of recognising what we are doing, what industry we’re in, how people are surviving in this industry, and how we’re going to service the industry with what products?” he said. The minister, referring to the vacant wooden huts that have already been set up for commercial trade at Public Beach, said they could not be used because no policy had been agreed to allow for that to happen. However, he added that those structures were too small for vendors to ply their trade. “I can see that they’re not practical. So, even if we were to say tomorrow ‘OK, it’s going to be regulated [and] a certain amount of people are going to be allowed,’ they’re going to say ‘We don’t want to be in that because you can’t maximise the opportunity.’ So there’s a lot of review that needs to be done,” he said. “Public Beach is supposed to be for the Caymanian people.” Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan Vendors have set up tents on Public Beach to ply their trade. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2022ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Miss Cayman Islands Universe first runner-up Chloe Powery- Doxey will represent the Cayman Islands at the 14 Jan. international pageant in New Orleans, replacing current queen Tiffany Conolly, who is facing criminal charges. The Miss Cayman Islands Universe Committee made the announcement on 8 Nov., nearly three weeks after stating that Powery-Doxey was being prepared for the pageant as a contingency plan. “The Miss Cayman Islands Universe Committee is announcing that the 1st Runner Up in the 2022 pageant, Chloe Powery-Doxey has been selected as the alternate who will represent the Cayman Islands at the Miss Universe Pageant in New Orleans on 14 January 2023,” the committee said in its statement. Following an incident on 15 Oct. 2021 involving her ex- boyfriend and his father, Conolly was charged with two counts of common assault, two counts of damage to property, two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of disorderly conduct. She appeared in court last month, on 17 Oct., when her lawyer, Oliver Grimwood, told the court that while she did assault the men, her actions were in self-defence. Her trial resumes on 5 Dec. Conolly, 24, was crowned on 6 Aug. after she had been charged, but before her trial began. Following her win, there was widespread public outcry about her representing Cayman on an international stage. The Miss Cayman Islands Universe Committee later suspended Conolly from making public appearances in her capacity as Miss Cayman Islands Universe. “Miss Powery-Doxey and the 2022 Miss Cayman Islands Universe 2nd Runner-Up, Hayley Grizzel, will both continue to be active in the community as alternates for the titleholder Tiffany Conolly until further notice,” the committee said in the statement. This past weekend, Grizzel represented the Cayman Islands as part of the launch of Cayman Airways’ new route to Los Angeles, California. (See page 10.) Tiffany Conolly was crowned Miss Cayman Islands Universe on 6 Aug. - Photo: File MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky A new government bill proposes that all bars operate under the same rules for playing music on Sundays. At present, licensed stand- alone retail bars and sea-going vessels are restricted from playing background music on a Sunday. But the rule does not apply to restaurants and hotels. According to a government press release, Cabinet has approved the Music and Dancing (Control) Amendment Bill, 2022 to equalise economic opportunities for owners of stand- alone bars and vessels. The bill was published in the Legislation Gazette on 4 Nov. 2022. The issue was first raised in June by former Premier Alden McLaughlin in a private member’s motion in Parliament. McLaughlin called on the government to amend the Music and Dancing (Control) Act, because the rules put exclusively Caymanian-owned stand-alone bars at an economic disadvantage. At the time, government supported the proposal in principle but only as part of a wholesale revision of the act. If passed by Parliament, the amendment bill will ensure stand- alone retail bars and sea-going vessels, which hold valid licences, are able to operate on a similar footing as hotels and restaurants on Sundays. Minister of Financial Services and Commerce André Ebanks noted that this amendment aims to balance the concerns of local business owners with the wider community. “The Ministry consulted with local business owners and relevant public and private sector stakeholders in the preparation of this Amendment Bill,” Ebanks said. Level playing field “We were mindful of the potential added duties this may place on our enforcement agencies and the concerns raised by the local religious community. Ultimately, this Amendment Bill is intended to cause minimal disruption on Sundays, by allowing activity that is already taking place in the restaurant and hotel sectors to be extended to stand-alone bars and sea-going vessels,” he said. “This will help to create a more level playing field and enable these sectors to generate additional revenue lawfully.” The bill defines stand-alone bars as those not located in a hotel and restaurant, which hold a liquor licence. This includes community and cultural venues that operate retail bars when hosting for-profit events as well as performances of music, dance and drama. Sea-going vessels are vessels deemed seaworthy by the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands that hold liquor as well as music and dancing licences. The bill also provides added parameters around operating hours. Hotels and restaurants would operate 9am to 11:59pm, while stand-alone bars and sea- going vessels would be open from 11am to 11:59pm. Further, the amendment bill stipulates that music in stand- alone bars should be of a low, background nature and not capable of being heard outside the premises in which it is played. Sea-going vessels must be at least a half mile out to sea before music can be played. Ebanks will present the Amendment Bill at the next sitting of Parliament during the week of 5 Dec. Under proposed legislation, background music would be allowed to be played in bars on Sundays. Bill aims to harmonise Sunday music rules for bars Chloe Powery-Doxey heading to Miss Universe pageant Commerce Minister André Ebanks First runner-up Chloe Powery-Doxey will represent the Cayman Islands in the Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans. - Photo: File The Miss Universe pageant will be held on 14 Jan. in New Orleans, Louisiana. cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2022RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Though there is a rise in awareness and a higher number of individuals reporting domestic violence, local advocates say more must be done at a government and community level to rid Cayman of this scourge. Annie Multon, founding member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, speaking on the 9 Nov. episode of the Cayman Compass weekly Facebook talkshow ‘The Resh Hour’, says while Cayman has come a long way from the 1980s where it was taboo to discuss domestic violence, there is still more that needs to be done as a community to protect domestic violence survivors. “We have made progress; there’s not enough of it. There’s more that needs to be done and whatever else that we can do, and that’s not just the Business and Professional Women’s Club, but that’s everybody. You don’t have to belong to an organisation to get out there and do something or say something. You can be on a one-to-one, be somebody’s friend, just be somebody’s friend,” Multon said. Community support needed Mahreen Nabi, BPW vice president and chair of the Silent Witness March committee, agreed, saying that everyone has a part to play in stopping violence in the home. “Every single one of us has a responsibility in the community to advocate, to support, to engage on the issue of domestic violence and abuse in general,” she said. “So, take the opportunity to educate yourself, feel empowered, know that there are resources out there and if you are someone who is dealing with a situation like this right now, there is hope.” With 1,500 reports for the year so far, Nabi said efforts like the Silent Witness March and local awareness campaigns are working. The high number of reports, she said, are an indication that survivors are feeling more confident to come forward rather than the statistics being a reflection of a spike in domestic violence in the community. Multon, speaking on the history of the march - now in its 22nd year - said it sparked changes back in the 1980s that led to the creation of a women-only unit within the police to deal with female victims, and a policy across the board, which she noted was pushed by Frank McField, where female victims of rape or assault were only treated by women to help ease the process. “[This] then gave the women more courage, more confidence that no matter how slight it was, they could go to the police station, they could go to the hospital and report what had happened. And up until that point, nobody wanted to say they had been raped, nobody. They wanted to keep it to themselves,” Multon said. Community psychiatric nurse Dympna Carten says the community should be mindful of the mental health trauma that is endured by the survivors and those around them, and look for any symptoms of struggle. She noted that the mental health line, which will be rebranded in the coming months as CaymanMind, remains a great resource for support and has been used by survivors who need someone to talk to. Anyone seeking mental health support can call the Mental Health Helpline at 1-800-534-MIND (6463). SUPPORT TEAM CAYMAN watch teams from NORTH AMERICA, LATIN AMERICA and THE CARIBBEAN compete at SEVEN MILE PUBLIC BEACH 11-13 NOVEMBER 2022 The Security Centre 2022 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Tickets available on EventPro.ky Covered Seating $20 ($50 all 3 days) $125 VIP (Includes 2 free drinks, snacks & canapes all day, exclusive covered seating area) $325 VIP all 3 days There will be open uncovered seating available all days at no charge PROUD TITLE SPONSOR Advocates call on community to help deal with domestic violence Interview online cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2022TOMORROW. Dear Clients and Business Partners, We would like to address concerns that have been circulating in the marketplace regarding Cayman First Insurance Company's financial stability and health. We pride ourselves on being transparent and want to provide you with the facts. We have always taken considerable pride in our team, our levels of service, and our ability to adapt and innovate. To enhance our customer experience, we recently implemented an upgrade to our Health system and portal for the use of our clients, providers, and business partners. The system implementation did not go as smoothly as expected. More importantly it impacted our valued customers with issues such as: • Health claim payment delays • Declined service by some providers • Long response times • Issues accessing our online verification portal A plan of action was implemented to address these issues with urgency, and we can now give the following updates: • Health claim payments to providers are now fully up to date. Payments continue to be issued and distributed to all health service providers in a timely manner. • Providers are confirming payments and are accepting our member ID cards. Our goal is for 100% acceptance in the very near future. • We have re-launched the on line verification portal so that service providers can get immediate verification. • We have added extra personnel to service our customers in person, by phone, through email and the on line portal. • The system challenges were confined to the Health operations and do not affect our operations for Home, Motor and Commercial Insurance. We understand the gravity of the situation and apologize for the inconvenience caused to all our customers, service providers and business partners. Cayman First is committed to taking the necessary steps to improve our service all while protecting you, your families, your businesses, your vehicles and your property from the unexpected hazards of life. Cayman First continues to be recognized worldwide as financially stable with excellent ability to meet our ongoing insurance obligations. This is confirmed by our AM Best financial strength rating of A- (Excellent). We thank healthcare providers for your patience and support through this transition. We are also incredibly grateful for the support of the Cayman Islands broker community who have partnered with us to support our customers through this transition. We thank our Customers especially for your patience and loyalty as we continue to work to serve you better. � Roger Balkissoon Managing Director Cayman Fl RST cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2022Next >