COVER BACK COVER SUPPORT. CELEBRATE. EMPOWER. 2022 A Mission to Heal, a Passion for Being the Best. MIAMI-FORT LAUDERDALE METRO 2022-23 RECOGNIZED IN 8 TYPES OF CARE Contact us to schedule an appointment Call 954-542-1350 | email: globalservices@hol y-cross.com 4725 North Federal Highway | Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 Since 1955, Holy Cross Health has taken pride in its ability to combine quality medical care and advanced technology with sincere compassion and understanding. With a Joint Commission Certified Stroke Program and Advanced Heart Failure Program, Holy Cross Health also is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Regional Hospital. Holy Cross is a 557-bed acute care hospital offering progressive services and programs to meet the region’s evolving healthcare needs. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Friday, 18-24 November 2022 Featured inside: The beautiful game Pages 32-35 The 'World Cup of Fraud' and the role Cayman offi cials played in itMatinees (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 Deputy governor hospitalised Deputy Governor Franz Manderson was recuperating in hospital this week after he “successfully underwent an emergency medical procedure” on 16 Nov., a Government Information Services statement said. The brief statement did not give further details on Manderson’s condition, only saying that government was aware “that there is concern circulating in our community regarding the Deputy Governor”. It said that “at this time we can confirm that Mr. Manderson successfully underwent an emergency medical procedure this morning and is recuperating. We are grateful for the public’s outpouring of support and cooperation in allowing his family some privacy at this time,” the statement said. Decade-old shooting of teenager ruled unlawful killing The Coroner’s Court ruled last week that the 2011 shooting death of 18-year-old Jason Christian resulted from an unlawful killing. Christian was killed after being ambushed and shot multiple times in Cranbrook Drive, off Crewe Road in George Town, on 19 Sept. 2011. He was one of four young men gunned down days apart from each other that month in what police described as a “tit-for-tat” spree of shootings. According to an autopsy report, Christian was shot at least three times – once in the chest, wrist and head. RCIPS Detective Superintendent Peter Dean told a coroner’s jury on Friday, 11 Nov., that the evidence suggests that Christian was not the intended victim. “From what we have gathered, it is clear that Mr. Christian was not the intended target, rather he was in the wrong place, wrong time, with the wrong person,” he said. “Christian was the driver of the vehicle, and it was the passenger that the gunman was after.” The passenger – Keith Montique – was shot in both shoulders, in the back, and grazed on the ear “with a high- power weapon capable of firing 40-calibre ammunition, yet he survived; and Mr. Christian, who was shot fewer times, died on the spot,” Dean said. Martial artist to teach women self-defence Local martial arts instructor Ronnie Hughes will be teaching women self-defence to raise awareness about safety and personal protection amid rising concerns over attacks. Hughes, owner of The Academy Grand Cayman, said the free seminar for women on Saturday, 24 Nov., at 2-4pm, will be timely as the holiday season usually brings with it increases in domestic violence, assaults and robberies. “[It is] supposed to be a happy time of the year but for a lot of people it’s not,” he said, adding that he wanted to be proactive and offer the seminar to teach women about self-defence, and offer a place where they can meet like-minded people and “just enjoy the experience”. The seminar, at The Academy Grand Cayman in Cannon Place, North Sound Road, George Town, is doubling as a fundraiser for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. “The seminar is free for all the teaching, but if you could just bring a donation... doesn’t matter how much or how little, that’s going to go to the Crisis Centre,” he said. The workshop, which is open to women aged 13 and up, will feature techniques including control holds and restraints, choke escapes, hair grabs and wrist grips, close- quarter combat (elbows, knees, punches and kicks), and throws and takedowns. Each attendee will receive a certificate of completion and one week of free access to The Academy. No previous experience is required. To register, call 323-9778. Privy Council begins historic sitting in Cayman The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the UK’s highest court of appeal, opened its historic visit to Cayman on 15 Nov. with an official welcome ceremony followed by a hearing of the first of four cases. Members of Cayman’s three branches of government and the wider legal fraternity gathered on the steps of the Halls of Justice (formerly the main court building) to witness the sitting of the Privy Council, which has arrived to preside over a series of complex legal questions in the coming days. The first case heard concerned a long-running dispute between shareholders of a Cayman Islands joint venture company that facilitated the expansion of Japanese convenience store brand FamilyMart into China (see page 28). To mark the momentous occasion, a guard of honour comprising officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service was assembled outside the court, which was inspected by Privy Council President Lord Robert John Reed of Allermuir. Members of all branches of government gathered on Tuesday, 15 Nov., to mark the first sitting of the Privy Council in Cayman. - Photo: Andrel Harris news in brief cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2022cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2022with any material that can’t be composted – it all goes back to the landfill. We, in Cayman, need to ask ourselves seriously: Who are we recycling for? Is it for the planet? Or is it for us, to maintain a veneer of control and sanity as the world around us burns? Cayman unthinkingly imports green policy in response to social pressure. It is trendy and inures us against the rage of the eco- warrior brigade. You cannot fault people for trying to make a difference – especially as the crisis gets worse and report after report warns of a code red and implores us to act now. But there is a risk that recycling in Cayman has become a performative ritual that confers a sense of virtue on the recycler, without making a dent in the problem. Distraction from the problem Many of us are guilty of talking a good game on climate change without being prepared to make real sacrifices that might actually make a difference. This is true on a global scale. The hypocrisy was evident in the number of private planes disgorging delegates at the Sharm summit. The negotiations to achieve ‘net zero’ were made a little harder by the choice of transport many participants chose to get there. The recycling predicament closer to home mirrors the same futility. If the process costs more than it achieves from an environmental standpoint, then recycling is simply distracting us from the problem by making us think we have done enough to solve it. We refuse to accept – nor does government want to acknowledge – that if we all took one fewer flight per year, we’d make more difference to the planet than recycling all the islands’ glass bottles. If we start to ask our own people to make these kinds of sacrifices, we have to ask the same of our tourists, too. And then we threaten the golden goose. Thus, the concept of ‘every little helps’ becomes a damaging smokescreen that allows us to feel good without doing the lot that is required. What is going on in Cayman now is just posturing. But ours is not the diatribe of a nihilist. There are efforts that can – and will – make a difference. Action plan for a genuinely greener Cayman Let’s get on with the dump remediation and get the landfill deal sorted. If ever there was a visceral reminder that we are not thinking things through, it is the distended carbuncle swelling a stone’s throw from beaches we tout as among the most beautiful on Earth. Replacing 'Mount Trashmore' with a waste-to-energy machine that needs as much fuel as possible to generate a stable electricity source will find an ample supply of trash we can turn into power. Hopefully the stalled deal will include a coherent recycling component that actually benefits the environment. Alternative energy sources need to be accelerated as a viable means of powering our islands. The Isle of Wight has become a renewable energy powerhouse; Cayman has set what feels like an unattainable and unrealistic goal of achieving 70% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2037 and has little progress to show for it. It is time to renew efforts – and hopes – that the islands could become fully self-sufficient from renewable energy sources. Efficient and affordable public transport – the panacea for so many ills from the traffic problem to drink driving – is a key part of this action plan, along with implementing a development and infrastructure plan for sensible and organised land use. Cayman doesn’t need to send anyone to Egypt, by plane, boat or biodegradable cardboard sailboat, to find that out. These problems have been staring us in the face for at least three decades. It’s beyond time for action over words. Anything else is just greenwashing and it’s as transparent as the clear Caribbean Sea. 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 North American reindeer (7) 5 Keep under observation (5) 8 About to happen (2,3,4) 9 An alcoholic spirit (3) 10 Pleasurable thrill (4) 12 Something to one’s taste (3,2,3) 14 To indulge (6) 15 Acutely (6) 17 Particular place (8) 18 Wound with a dagger (4) 21 Distress (3) 22 Inscrutable expression (5,4) 24 Stretched tight (5) 25 Absorb attention of (7) DOWN 1 Slit (5) 2 Turncoat (3) 3 Complain (4) 4 Having no equal (6) 5 Exposed to attack (4,4) 6 Closely integrated (5-4) 7 Country of central Europe (7) 11 Confess everything (4,5) 13 Many (8) 14 Extremely foolish person (7) 16 Recruit (6) 19 Consecrate (5) 20 To haul (4) 23 Before the present (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17165 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 17165 ACROSS: 1 Caribou, 5 Watch, 8 In the wind, 9 Gin, 10 Kick, 12 Cup of tea, 14 Humour, 15 Keenly, 17 Location, 18 Stab, 21 Woe, 22 Poker face, 24 Tense, 25 Engross. DOWN: 1 Chink, 2 Rat, 3 Beef, 4 Unique, 5 Wide open, 6 Tight-knit, 7 Hungary, 11 Come clean, 13 Multiple, 14 Halfwit, 16 Rookie, 19 Bless, 20 Drag, 23 Ago. It is a truth (almost) universally acknowledged that small islands stand on the frontline of climate change. Whether it be threats posed by rising sea levels and increasing global temperatures, or the risk of more severe storms and beach erosion, a single jurisdiction in possession of a good fortune must be in want of some action in the face of the existential threat to our shores. With that in mind, many across Cayman dutifully take their ‘bags for life’ to the supermarket, trade in their gas-guzzling trucks for Teslas and collect rubbish once a week at the beach. Unfortunately, this is a literal and figurative drop in the ocean when it comes to meaningful action to shore up our defences against the climate crisis. Hot air, not consequential action Frustration has been boiling over for some time about the long- delayed solution to the landfill crisis in the Cayman Islands. Dismay gave way to outcry as Cayman suspended its glass recycling programme at the start of this month – one of the islands’ futile and fragile attempts to deal with its waste, shattering at the very moment the world’s leaders gathered at COP27 to address the global emergency. There was a backlash against Dart who have been responsible for managing our glass recycling efforts for the last 10 years. But should the onus be on a private company to take ownership of the problem? Shouldn’t we expect an organised system of waste management for the island to be up and running by now – almost 10 years after government first began working on it. It seems there is more hot air than consequential action. The furore over the glass recycling issue is one example. Glass bottles are cleaned using desalinated water, created using power from diesel generators. People then drive to bottle banks or recycling centres to dispose of them. There, they are collected by a diesel-powered truck (most of which would surely fail acceptable global emissions tests given the volume of acrid smoke they belch) and taken to be processed by a diesel-powered crusher. Next, the product gets buried or inefficiently used – there is no meaningful recycling of glass locally. The same issue is apparent Getting the landfill deal sorted is the first step to meaningful action, rather than performative virtue-signalling when it comes to Cayman tackling the climate crisis. Cayman’s COP out Editorial cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2022Police: A loosely affiliated group of 10 suspects is to blame ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Since the start of the year, police say 35 armed robberies have been reported. Of those, 27 have involved guns, and 23 have occurred since August. From daring daylight armed robberies to opportunistic jewellery and purse snatches, the recent spike in robberies across Grand Cayman has police concerned, as the busy Christmas season draws near. According to police, the robberies are heavily concentrated in George Town and primarily target small retail complexes in the late evenings, usually between Thursday and Saturday. “We have identified what we believe are three groups… of at least 10 persons,” Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne said at a press conference on Thursday, 17 Nov. “They are known to us, most of them have spent time in custody and are known to the prison population, and are not long out of prison, having served sentences for other related crimes.” Byrne said the 10 suspects are part of three smaller groups and are collectively “loosely associated”. However, police said they are not an organised criminal gang. False number plates used on getaway vehicles “We see three cars constantly in the picture and we see that they are changing number plates on the cars being used… and that actually coincides with a number of number plates that have been stolen from parked vehicles in Grand Cayman over the past couple months,” said Byrne. He said police earlier this year seized a vehicle that they believed had been used in a number of robberies. It was returned to its owner, who said the vehicle had been taken without his permission or knowledge, but was used again in the recent spate of robberies. Police have now seized the vehicle again and it is being kept as evidence. It’s not just premises that the robbers are targetting. Police said, in one instance, they attempted to rob a Domino’s pizza delivery driver, and in another, a man was robbed when he showed up with cash to buy a car he had found for sale online. So far, three people have been arrested in relation to this recent spate of robberies, but no one had been charged as of 17 Nov. The first arrested person was released after the victim – a suspected illegal numbers seller – refused to cooperate with police. The other two suspects remain in police custody. Only one of them was arrested in relation to the robberies; the other is suspected of having committed robberies but was arrested for unrelated offences, police said. In response to the increase in crime, police say they have stepped up all forms of preventative, proactive and reactive policing. “Our job is to go out and get these people, tackle them, dismantle them, get them before the courts, prosecute and convict them,” said Byrne. “I think they deserve custodial sentences for their actions and I think that is exactly what they will get.” Varying motives fuelling the robberies Police say the need for quick and easy cash is fuelling the increase in robberies, and small businesses that lack crime-prevention measures are becoming prime targets. Of the 35 robberies, 10 occurred in commercial complexes, such as the recent raid on a small grocery store during which armed gunmen assaulted a shopkeeper before making off with an undisclosed sum of cash. Other easy targets are illegal lottery sellers. So far, six robberies surrounding illegal gambling were reported this year. The commissioner said, “Police are after the predicate offences, so what does that mean if we are called out to a robbery scene and we discover it is site of illegal gambling? We will deal with the robbery because that is what we were called out for, and on a later date we will deal with the illegal gambling.” Cayman is still a safe place Despite the recent increase in robberies, police say Cayman is still a safe place and the business and residential communities have nothing to fear. “In general, you have to be very much in the wrong place at the wrong time to become a victim of this,” said Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown, who spoke at the press conference. With the Christmas holiday season swiftly approaching, bringing an uptick in retail activity, Byrne says his officers have been deployed to commercial complexes across the island to provide business owners with tips and to advise them on how to make their premises less attractive targets for criminals. 35 armed robberies this year The majority of the robberies have occurred in George Town. Four have been carried out in West Bay, and there have been isolated incidents in other parts of Grand Cayman. - Source: RCIPS cayman compass 5 news N news FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2022Safe harbour? Converted shipping containers are providing homes to low-income workers in parts of George Town. - Photos: James Whittaker Tiny rooms rent for $650 in container complex JAMERS WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The row of aqua shipping containers doesn’t look especially out of place in the otherwise empty lot outside of a George Town warehouse. That is, until you notice the gas connection and the air conditioning unit attached to the outside. A bicycle and a wheelie bin are propped against the outside of one container. The sound of a television soap opera and the scent of frying chicken drifts through the small open window of another. The empty containers, it is clear, have been converted into miniature homes in the middle of the capital’s industrial area. Residents, living two-to- a-container, told the Cayman Compass they are paying $650 each – or $1,300 per container. That gets them a small bedroom, a shared cooker and somewhere to sit and watch television or eat a meal. There are four containers in total, housing eight residents. For some observers, the presence of a miniature trailer park in the heart of George Town may be an alarming sign of the times. For others, it is an innovative solution to Cayman’s housing challenges. “It is a little small,” one resident told us, stretching their arms wide to touch both walls, demonstrating the size of the room. “It is OK though; it is comfortable and it is all I can afford.” Low-wage workers have few options The containers have been fitted out with hardwood floors. There’s a small television, with cable, and the bills are covered. “I have lived in a lot worse places,” another said. All of the residents we spoke to were single people on low wages. They said they just needed somewhere cheap to lay their head or were attracted by the option of having their own room – however small – after sharing apartments to cut costs. The Compass tracked down the owner of the land, who agreed to speak with us on condition that we don’t print his name in this article. He said he had initially converted the shipping containers as low-cost housing for his own workers. During COVID, he said, landlords began converting their properties into short-term rentals for quarantine and prices rocketed. “Some of my staff said they were going to have to leave because their rent had doubled.” With the construction industry thriving on the back of post pandemic incentives, he said his workforce was being poached by other businesses. He said it took around six weeks to outfit the unused storage containers at his property and offer them to his workers as low-cost housing. The business owner acknowledged he didn’t get planning permission for the novel renovation. “I did it out of desperation, really, to save my business,” he said. He has now applied for after- the-fact permission and insists everything was built to appropriate code. It will be up to the Central Planning Authority to decide if the four containers can continue to be used as houses. Options for future The landlord told us he has no plans to expand the container home project, which now houses a mix of his own staff and other low-income workers. But he sees the potential for such renovations as a solution to some of the housing challenges facing Cayman. “A lot of people in Cayman are only making $400 or $500 a week. Where are they supposed to live? “This gives them their own room and a little living space. It is tiny, but it is their own space.” Shipping containers have been used on occasion for temporary housing and charities like ARK use them in renovations for the most needy families. The aesthetics and the stigma of ‘trailer parks’ might be out of sync with Cayman’s image, the business owner acknowledged. But, he said they do provide a sturdy, hurricane-safe shell that can be quickly outfitted for low- cost accommodation. “It wouldn’t work everywhere, but for Industrial Park or those type of areas, it could be part of the solution,” he said. Other business owners have highlighted challenges recruiting staff because of the high cost of housing in Cayman. Some are considering building accommodation for their employees as an incentive. Grand Old House aims to build dormitory-style accommodation to allow its staff to live on site at the restaurant. Davenport Development is looking at similar options to source land to provide subsidised staff housing. Shipping containers a last refuge for low-income renters Shipping containers converted to homes in George Town. cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2022 6More than 250 asylum seekers now in Cayman RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Government has spent more than $1 million to house Cuban asylum seekers in secure accommodation this year amid a mounting refugee crisis. As the tally of Cubans arriving on local shores grows, Deputy Premier Chris Saunders says finding a remedy for the problem will not be easy, especially as costs and housing challenges are increasing along with the influx. The Ministry of Border Control, in a press release issued on 11 Nov., said there were 286 “irregular migrants” in the Cayman Islands – 75 on Cayman Brac and 211 on Grand Cayman. Since then, another 26 Cubans have arrived by boat – 17 of whom were rescued at sea by a cargo ship. Saunders, who is also the minister for border control, said in the release that while he understood the community’s concern over the situation, the Cayman Islands has international obligations “to refugees and asylum seekers”. Saunders also spoke to the human element of this issue. “[Customs and Border Control] is being inundated with requests from people in Cuba seeking information on their loved ones who embarked on the dangerous journey. As fellow human beings, our hearts go out to both those worried about their loved ones, and those desperate enough to make that voyage. “However, we also must recognise that as a small country, we cannot absorb all arrivals due to our own limited resources. It is a complex problem, and one that is not easily remedied,” Saunders said. Costs, arrivals expected to rise Between January and September 2022, the security, maintenance and detention of the Cubans cost the government approximately $1.284 million. Those costs are likely to continue to rise as the number of fleeing Cubans is expected to continue. Saunders, explaining factors he believes are behind the increased migration, said the economic challenges in Cuba is influencing people to seek a better life elsewhere. However, these “factors have been further aggravated by current global forces, including the war in Ukraine, which would result in less aid coming from longstanding ally and trading partner Russia. “Combined with the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing international sanctions against Cuba, all of this has led to a worsening economic crisis in the country and in turn to mass migration,” he said, noting that a “record 220,908 Cubans flocked” to the US via Mexico during fiscal year 2022, according to a US Customs and Border Protection report. Accommodation challenges The ministry, in the statement, said the foremost difficulties for the Cayman government are providing suitable accommodation and the ongoing cost of maintaining the Cubans. “Migrants are currently placed in separate accommodations around Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. The long-term objective is to accommodate all migrants in one facility,” it said, adding that the ministry and Customs and Border Control met with the Public Works Department to discuss repairs and upgrades to the Immigration Detention Centre. When these repairs and upgrades are completed, the centre will be suitable to provide secure accommodation to all irregular migrants until the asylum process is completed, the ministry said. Saunders said government is also tackling the issue from a diplomatic standpoint. “While we are doing all we can on the ground to expedite matters, we are also maintaining dialogue and cooperation with the Cuban Government. In light of the increase in arrivals to the Cayman Islands, and understanding that the situation may worsen, we will be meeting with Cuban Government representatives before the end of the year to determine the way forward,” he said. The minister for border control said though government also has concerns regarding the practicalities and costs involved in dealing with the migration situation, “we have to understand that the repatriation process is not one which Cayman Islands Government authorities have total control over”, pointing to its obligations under the 1951 UN Conventions on Refugees. “Each migrant has the right to apply for asylum and the right to appeal if the application is denied," he said. "It is only once this process is completed that we can begin the repatriation process, and the timeline for their return to Cuba is also dependent on the Cuban Government’s response.” Million-dollar bill as Cuban refugee crisis mounts Repatriations, appeals take time Additional factors which increase costs to government, according to the ministry, include the timeframe for receiving authorisation for repatriation from the Cuban government and the length of the asylum application and appeals process. “All of the Cuban migrants currently in the Cayman Islands have applied for asylum. Of these, 14 have either exhausted their asylum application process or withdrawn their applications and are awaiting repatriation back to Cuba,” the ministry said. So far this year, there have been two repatriation flights to Cuba carrying two Cuban passengers each, one on 10 July and the other on 4 Nov. A dedicated CBC team, tasked with handling asylum and irregular migration matters, is processing the asylum requests. “The overall goal is to streamline the assessment process and return unqualified applicants to their home country as quickly as possible,” the ministry said. This vessel arrived on Cayman Brac on Thursday, 10 Nov. 2022 with nine migrants on board. - Photo: CBC “However, we also must recognise that as a small country, we cannot absorb all arrivals due to our own limited resources. It is a complex problem, and one that is not easily remedied,” Chris Saunders, Deputy Premier cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2022Department of Environmental Health Cayman Islands Government Hundreds of applicants potentially impacted JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Several questions on the history and culture test – required for anyone seeking permanent residency in the Cayman Islands – were incorrect or “impossible to answer”, according to allegations in a court filing. The lawsuit alleges that the test was not updated following the April 2021 general election. It suggests that PR-seekers could have been taking outdated or “faulty” tests for as long as six months after the vote, potentially impacting hundreds of applicants. The claims are included in a writ filed on behalf of a 40-year-old Honduran national, Edwin Sanchez, who is appealing a decision to deny his permanent residency application. The writ claims that several of the questions on the test were either wrongly phrased or didn’t include the correct answer as one of the multiple choice options. The court filing indicates that several questions – understood to include the names of ministers of government and the number of people in the Cabinet, among others – were wrong. It is understood that hundreds of PR applicants could be impacted. “It is the appellant’s position that potentially the questions that he was asked, and which formed part of the test that he sat, were either factually wrong, impossible to get right, were marked incorrectly or were unreasonable,” according to the originating motion, filed with the Grand Court on 9 Nov. Residency test questions outdated and incorrect, lawsuit claims The history and culture test – a 40-question exam – is potentially worth 20 points, towards the target total of 110 points currently needed for WORC to grant a permanent residency certificate. It has long faced accusations of obscure and baffling questions. For example, applicants are asked for the date of the opening of the post office, the number of councillors in the short-lived West Indies Federation and the codename of the US naval base that was briefly established on the island during the Second World War. Other questions include the name of the fiddler who performed at the Grand Ole Opry and the year that Caymanian turtlers ceased fishing in Cuban waters. ‘Faulty’ test But the lawsuit goes further, alleging the test includes questions that are simply wrong. Nick Joseph, a senior partner at HSM, who has been assisting clients with PR applications for almost 20 years, said that the present court case relates to errors over a limited period, from the April 2021 election until the time the errors were corrected in September of the same year. But he claimed the issue of “defective” tests has been “widely noted for more than a decade”. He said hundreds of applicants had been impacted, though the amount actually denied PR as a consequence would be far lower. “Although attempts have been made to correct the position, there has been a regrettable failure, even refusal, to address the issues in the past,” he said. The Compass was aware of allegations of “faulty” tests and filed a Freedom of Information request with the department in June of this year, asking whether it had received complaints and seeking clarification over how many applicants could be affected. The department came back with a partial response in late July acknowledging that a “couple of questions on the test for September 2021” were incorrect and that these questions were “discontinued once it was brought to our attention”. WORC indicated the department had received no written complaints on the issue. The Compass is currently contesting the response, which is incomplete and has failed to provide all of the requested information as specified in the FOI. We will face a hearing before the Ombudsman in the coming months. WORC acknowledged errors The lawsuit includes copies of an email exchange between an anonymous individual and a WORC employee, pointing out inaccuracies in the test and indicating it could impact a large number of people “on the fringe” of being eligible for residency status. “We are currently in the process of having the tests revised and take into account the change of government,” the employee wrote in September 2021. “We understand the concern and how it could affect applicant’s scores and the issue will be corrected as soon as possible,” the response stated. As part of his initial appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal, Sanchez requested a copy of his test, which was denied. The court filing indicates that no public announcement was made and no notification was given to anyone who sat the test that the questions were problematic. “At no point has the first respondent nor the board notified the general public or those individuals who applied for PR between 14 April 2021 and some time in September 2021 that there were issues with the History and Culture test that applicants sat,” it states. Sanchez’s appeal also includes claims he was not granted enough points for his family connections in Cayman or for his savings. The test was not updated to reflect the change in ministerial positions following the 2021 election, a court filing suggests. Which fiddler performed at the Grand Ole Opry? It was the late Radley Gourzong. cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2022www.piratesfestcayman.com Pirates Fest CAYMAN ISLANDS NATIONAL FESTIVAL Grand Cayman Pirates Festivities 18 Nov Friday 10.30am – 3.30pm 10.00am – 11.30am 5.30pm – 6.30pm 5.30pm – 2.00am 7.00pm – 2.00am Airport Welcome Reception, ORIA Turtle Release, Governor’s Beach Pirates Fest 5K Run/Walk, Seafarers Way Food Festival, Seafarers Way Block Party Street Dance, Seafarers Way 19 Nov Saturday 10.00am – 11.30am 1.00pm – Midnight 1:00pm – 5:00pm 2.00pm – 6.00pm 5.30pm – 6.00pm 8.30pm – 10.00pm 8.00pm – 8.10pm 8.15pm – Midnight Pirate Pooch Parade Food Festival C.I. National Museum Looky Ya! Children’s Play Area Trial of the Pyrates Teen Up Street Dance Fireworks (Closing) Grand Finale Street Dance cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2022Next >