BK Big Fish March 3rd -5th, Awards dinner March 6th Register Now at fishcayman.com or in person at GTYC on 2nd March, 6pm Over $60,000 in cash and prizes to be won with giveaways for all participants! @bkbigfish @Caymanbkbigfish Follow us for all the updates cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 3–9 February 2023 Sir Alden knighted by King Charles III Page 8 Sun, sea and suspect sponsorships 1. (the football shirt on the beach) – Photo: Portsmouth FC Facebook 2. (the cars) 3. (the hockey team) – Photo: Old Cranleighan Hockey Club Facebook – Photo: Portsmouth FC Facebook – Photo: Europe Visit Cayman Islands Facebook – Photo: Old Cranleighan Hockey Club Facebook Department of Tourism spent $500K on British sports, including amateur team linked to its UK manager Pages 22-25Matinees (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 HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCH-GILLIES weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with a 40% chance of showers. SEA STATE Moderate to rough with a wave height of 4 to 6 feet. WINDS East to northeast at 10 to 15 knots. 86°F HIGH 75°F LOW Passenger accused of importing guns posts $30,000 bail A man accused of importing multiple guns into Cayman has been granted $30,000 cash bail by the Summary Court ahead of a Grand Court appearance next month. Appearing via video link from Northward Prison on Thursday, 2 Feb., Anton Parygin, of Canada, listened as his attorney James Stenning made a brief bail application. “The position is that Mr. Parygin will post bail by way of a bond,” said Stenning, who added that his client was willing to adhere to several strict bail conditions. Parygin must surrender his Canadian, Russian and Israeli passports, not go within 100 yards of any air or seaport, remain at a specific address and report to the George Town police station weekly. Because the bail conditions were pre-approved by way of emails between the prosecution and defence counsel, no arguments were advanced during open court. Parygin, 45, arrived from Canada on 28 Jan. He faces six counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm and three counts of importation of an unlicensed firearm. Parygin has been released on bail and is expected to make his first Grand Court appearance on 2 March. Part of hospital evacuated as smoke triggers fire alarm Part of the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town was evacuated on 1 Feb. after smoke triggered a fire alarm. According to a press release issued by the Health Services Authority, the smoke was emitting from a mechanical room in the dialysis unit. Patients in the dialysis unit, Urgent Care, the pharmacy and the MRI unit were escorted from the affected areas until the ‘all clear’ was given. The HSA said the dialysis unit had undergone air-quality testing and all services resumed later in the day. It said dialysis patients had been contacted to reschedule their treatments. “The Health Services Authority would like to thank our patients, visitors and vendors for their cooperation during this time and apologise for any inconvenience,” the HSA stated. Scope of East-West Arterial environmental impact study released Cayman’s draft document outlining the scope of an upcoming environment impact assessment for the expansion of the East-West Arterial road will examine not just its potential impact on the Central Mangrove Wetland, but also the consequences of not going ahead with the project. The proposed road involves the construction of a 10-mile-long, 160-foot-wide, multi-lane-highway from Woodland Drive in Bodden Town to Frank Sound Road in North Side. Once completed, the East-West Arterial would connect George Town to North Side on a single highway. In the document, the National Roads Authority says the proposed road will “create a highly disaster- resilient ‘central highway’; serve as an emergency route when coastal roads are compromised; reduce travel times between George Town and East End, North Side and Bodden Town; and promote public transportation (dedicated bus lines)”. The National Conservation Council in 2016 determined that the road extension required an environmental impact assessment, as it will encroach on up to 174 acres of the Central Mangrove Wetland, “with the potential indirect disturbance of a larger area”. The draft terms of reference, which will set out the parameters of the EIA, were published this week as part of a public consultation process that includes two public meetings which will be held on 7 Feb. and 9 Feb. For more details, visit caymancompass.com. Customs officer admits having illegal guns and ammunition Former Customs and Border Control officer Timothy McKenzie has pleaded guilty to having two illegal handguns and 50 rounds of ammunition. Appearing before the Grand Court on 1 Feb., McKenzie, 45, entered a last-minute change of plea which vacated a trial slated for later this month. A 9mm Taurus and .45-calibre Astra handgun were discovered during a “proactive operation” by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service at McKenzie’s Bodden Town address on 24 Aug. 2022. McKenzie was charged with four counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm, two of which were for the handguns and two for the 20 and 30 rounds of .45-calibre and 9mm ammunition, respectively. During the hearing, McKenzie’s lawyer, Jonathon Hughes, brought forward a bail application asking that his client be released pending sentencing to “put his family affairs in order”. Justice Cheryll Richards, who presided over the hearing, rejected the bail application, but asked that prison officers accommodate McKenzie as much as possible with getting his affairs in order. He was remanded into custody and will return for sentencing next month. Firefighters tackle trailer blaze Cayman Islands Fire Service officers extinguished a fire burning three trailers in an open lot in George Town, that led to a large plume of thick black smoke over the area on 31 Jan. The fire, at a lot near Cayman Auto Diagnostic Clinic, which is located on the waterfront, was reported at 1:17pm, a spokesperson for the Fire Service said. “On arrival, CIFS conducted a Dynamic Risk Assessment and confirmed three trailers were on fire on the open lot,” the spokesperson said. The fire crew extinguished the fire and prevented it from spreading to adjoining properties. Fire trucks respond to the fire alarm at the Cayman Islands Hospital on Wednesday, 1 Feb. - Photo: Submitted news in brief cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky New regulations that ban the feeding of feral chickens and cats from Friday, 3 Feb., carry a maximum penalty of a fine of up to $500,000 and/or four years in prison for people who repeatedly feed them. From Friday, 3 Feb., it will be illegal to feed chickens or cats living in the wild. The new rules do not apply to people feeding the animals on their own property. A spokesperson for the Department of Environment said the feeding ban would not be enforced immediately, as there would be a transitional period “where enforcement will take an ‘educate and inform’ approach”. However, she said, if or when enforcement becomes necessary, it would mean a warning – effectively a cease-and- desist order – for a first offence; a fine of up to $5,000, upon conviction, for a second offence; and a fine of up to $500,000 and/or imprisonment for up to four years for a third and subsequent offence, under the National Conservation Act. The new regulations are part of a stricter approach to controlling invasive and alien species of animals and plants within the Cayman Islands announced in December by the National Conservation Council. As well as a ban on feeding feral animals, releasing stray dogs or cats after neutering or spaying them is also prohibited under the regulations, a move which animal charities say is counterproductive and will lead to a larger, not smaller, population of feral animals. Both the DoE spokesperson and a list of Frequently Asked Questions on the National Conservation Council website stress that any penalties imposed for feeding feral animals would ultimately be determined by a judge. Enforcing the new regulations will fall to the DoE’s conservation officers, although the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and Department of Agriculture officers can also police offences. The stiff maximum penalties for feeding feral animals comes under Section 38 of the National Conservation Act. In contrast with the maximum penalty under that law, cruelty to animals in Cayman carries a maximum penalty of a $4,000 fine and imprisonment for one year. Last week, a man convicted of cutting wattles and crowns off 15 roosters and filing down their spurs was sentenced to 80 hours of community service. The maximum penalties under the National Conservation Act applies to any offence under the legislation where no punishment is specifically prescribed. In practice in Cayman, maximum penalties are rarely imposed by judges when passing sentence. Looking for sensible solutions According to the FAQs accompanying the new regulations, cats that are allowed to roam freely outside a person’s property, even if microchipped and considered family pets, would be deemed to be feral cats. The DoE and the Department of Agriculture say they plan to work with the animal charities and veterinarians “to find sensible, time- limited solutions so feral cats can be contained and cared for in accordance with the new Regulations”. A cull of feral cats has been carried out in Little Cayman and on a part of the Bluff on Cayman Brac, in a bid to protect native species, such as Sister Islands rock iguanas and booby birds, that the animals are preying on. To highlight the immediate threat of feral cats on native species, in a recent social media post, the DoE released images of the bodies of an adult brown booby bird and chick which had been killed by a cat on Cayman Brac. It noted that a necropsy done by a veterinarian showed the bird had compound fractures and a broken wing, and it and the baby bird had 14mm puncture wounds consistent with cats’ teeth. The DoE says feeding and supporting feral animals in the wild gives them “strength to breed and impose greater impact on the habitat which actually belongs to Cayman’s native species”. “The Department’s active projects are currently focused around ecologically sensitive areas where our most threatened native species require protection from feral animals,” the DoE spokesperson said. “The Regulations have been established to provide the legal framework for best practices when it comes to alien/invasive species management in the Cayman Islands.” Up to $500,000 fine, 4 years in jail for feeding feral chickens, cats Wild chickens race to be fed in West Bay. From Friday, 3 Feb., it will be illegal to feed the feral fowl. - Photo: Norma Connolly The new regulations are part of a stricter approach to controlling invasive and alien species of animals and plants within the Cayman Islands announced in December by the National Conservation Council. cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023 31234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 An established principle (5) 4 To plunder (7) 8 A knock (3) 9 Worth mentioning (2,5,2) 10 Southwest US state (7) 11 Great pain (5) 13 Die of hunger (6) 15 Miscellaneous collection (6) 18 Spotless (5) 19 Handbill (7) 21 Disguised by embellishment (7,2) 23 Arrest (3) 24 Love affair (7) 25 Give way to pressure (5) DOWN 1 Amount still outstanding (7) 2 Involve as a consequence (9) 3 Inscription on coat of arms (5) 4 Discourage (6) 5 Czech composer (7) 6 A durable wood (3) 7 Noble (5) 12 All things considered (2,7) 14 Deer meat (7) 16 Retire (2,2,3) 17 Vehicle used on snow (6) 18 Drink made from apples (5) 20 Have relevance (5) 22 A hard heavy wood (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17231 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 17231 ACROSS: 1 Axiom, 4 Despoil, 8 Rap, 9 To speak of, 10 Arizona, 11 Agony, 13 Starve, 15 Ragbag, 18 Clean, 19 Leaflet, 21 Dressed up, 23 Nab, 24 Romance, 25 Yield. DOWN: 1 Arrears, 2 Implicate, 3 Motto, 4 Dismay, 5 Smetana, 6 Oak, 7 Lofty, 12 On balance, 14 Venison, 16 Go to bed, 17 Sledge, 18 Cider, 20 Apply, 22 Elm. What they’re saying Online Letters to the editor Need a hug? For $100-an- hour a new Cayman cuddle company can help Just go foster/adopt a dog/cat and hug them. Cheaper for sure. Paul James I see no reason why these jobs would go to expats. None. Steven Sokohl A duck by any other name is still a duck. Anna Rose Washburn Has anyone heard the term ‘family’ or pastor or counsellor? Steve Cummins So this is a real thing. I Googled it. Cuddling business. People actu- ally go to this place as therapy. Shelley Solomon A very sad commentary on our society. Joy Basdeo Well, guys and gals, don’t get too touchy-feely with your paid cuddler or you might have some allegations and court dates in your future. Cathrine Welds Cheaper than a therapist. Cyndy Ebanks And to think I give away my hugs freely. Carlin Markman US visitor dies while snorkelling off South Church Street I get so upset every time there’s a snorkelling-related death. There’s just too many of them! There needs to be some public education/awareness aimed at tourists on the dangers and statistics of this. A pamphlet? An in- sert in the magazines at the airports? Just something so people can think twice and perhaps bring a life jacket with them to snorkel. It seems like a safe, easy water sport but they have no idea how quickly the situation can change in the water. Daria Keenan Lifeguards are effective for swimmers near to the shore. It would be a massive waste of public funds to station a guard every 200 metres on Seven Mile Beach for this purpose. Most, if not all, of these water-related deaths happen due to a serious medical complication occurring while snorkelling or div- ing in deep water, out of range from any lifeguards stationed on shore. Before we throw public money at this, perhaps people should respect the ocean and understand the risks associated with entering it, and stay in a pool if you’re at risk for a heart attack out there.. I’ve had tourists approach me on a beach to ask if it’s okay to snorkel. Of course it is... [but what about your ability]? Jd Banks Lifeguards [can be] stationed at key points around the island where they can monitor swimmers. Come on, Cayman, get with the times. Most tourist destinations have lifeguards. Britain has a superb lifeguard system going. Why are you not following this idea? Andrew Veganic When I served with the RCIPS, I came across several incidents of tourists who thought they could immediately snorkel even having never done it before. Some had heart attacks and, on two occasions, I had to enter the water to rescue unresponsive males who sadly passed. The tour companies should warn these people [that] unless experienced, just spectate. Jerry Young Man sentenced to community service for mutilating roosters I certainly believe commu- nity service of more than 80 hours should have been passed down and he should have been made to do some sort of service regarding the same animals in public, where he can be seen doing so. This reminds me of the dog-fighting case involving the US football player (Michael Vick). Patricia Bryan Shocking... 80 hours. What a sad legal system. Julie Edwards 80 years. Debbie Ebanks We have been coming to Cayman since 1996. Having returned post-COVID, we have noticed a marked increase in noise pollution on Seven Mile Beach. An exponential increase in ambulance and street noise, motorcycles zooming, etc. Today, we had a helicopter hovering over our beach for over 10 minutes during Sunday afternoon! It really seems like people and government alike just don’t care about limiting noise and maintaining the serene Cayman we used to have. For example, quality of life would be enhanced by a simple action: make West Bay Road north of the Kimpton for local traffic only and reduce the speed limit and enforce it! The bypass hasn’t sufficiently reduced traffic on West Bay Road and government should realise that this noise pollution is destroying what was a quiet paradise. Doug Shearer Silver Sands Today I read about the huge fines, along with possible incarceration for the ‘horrific crime’ of feeding feral cats and chickens [Cayman Compass ‘Up to $500,000 fine, 4 years in jail for feeding feral chickens, cats’]. Yes, of course I understand the need to protect the island from invasive species, but why are you avoiding the totally irresponsible dog owners? I am talking about the people that let their male dogs that have not been neutered to roam the streets, impregnating female dogs that have not been spayed. Why not address this situation? Recently my sister’s dog (that was on a leash) was attacked by a dog that the owner allowed to roam free. The owner did not have the wherewithal to pay the vet bills, and her solution to the situation was to take the dog and dump it off at East End, which was a terrible thing to do. People have been harassed by these dogs and, yes, they chase cars and motor bikes, and these dogs often end up dead on the road. What about the irresponsible dog owners that tie these ‘so-called pets’ to a tree all day? We have caught a feral cat, which was as sweet as could be, and the Humane Society found homes for her and her kittens (my friend adopted the last kitten). Lastly, if this is the penalty for feeding chickens and cats, I hope you up the ante on those that molest children, rob people, and attack women jogging. It seems to me that needs to also be looked at – $500,000 fine and four years in prison for feeding strays… that is a joke! Janice Sanders To begin with, I thought that I’d dreamed it, or that it was a figment of my imagination, but no, there really was an article on 27 Jan. [‘Cuddle company offers hugs for $100 an hour’] about a company asking people to pay $100 for a hug and a kiss to cheer them up. No, it is not April yet and, yes, this is Cayman – in its heyday, perhaps the most friendly and welcoming place on the planet. The whole world seems to have gone mad lately, in so many different ways, and unfortunately the three islands seem to have joined in. Mike Spragg Paying for hugs a mad idea Protection needed from roaming dogs Noise pollution spoiling Cayman cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023Make good health your resolution for 2023. Book a consultation with Dr Kayes at Cayman Surgical Group today. (345) 945-8380 As part of our expanding partnerships with international board- certified experts and fellowship-trained physicians, we are thrilled to announce the newest member to join our team: Urologist Dr Oliver Kayes. Dr Kayes brings 20 years of clinical experience to CSG, helping patients across all areas of urology. He is globally recognized as an expert in men’s health concerns, infertility, benign prostate conditions, reconstructive surgery, and male sexual dysfunction. Dr Kayes is motivated to deliver clinical innovation and first- class care to his patients in Cayman and across the Caribbean. World-class Urology is here at Cayman Surgical Group. CSG Kayes Ad-03.indd 1CSG Kayes Ad-03.indd 12023-01-04 4:53 PM2023-01-04 4:53 PM cayman compass 5 WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman will continue to offer vaccines and boosters to the entire community while considering expanding delivery through local pharmacists, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent has said. This move is in contrast to recently announced UK policy changes which will see Britain’s COVID-19 vaccination programme move from a universal approach to targeting vulnerable groups only. Gent, in response to Cayman Compass queries on the change in UK policy, said, “The Ministry of Health and Wellness is also looking at ways to enhance services related to greater access to immunisation, including the possibility of seeing delivery by a wider range of health professionals, including pharmacists.” While he was aware that the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommendation was likely to be taken up in Britain, Gent said in Cayman the approach will still be determined “based on our unique context”. “For example, we have to remember that given Cayman’s transient community, and the size of the diaspora of residents within our shores from the Pacific Rim regions, we have an additional interest in monitoring the situation in China,” Gent said. This means that Cayman will maintain a service that ensures that all vulnerable people can get boosters at the most appropriate time of the year and that any non- immunised people can still obtain primary immunisation regardless of vulnerability, he added. He said Cayman will “continue to operate a system that allows anyone that wants to receive a booster to get one, even though our priority will be the most vulnerable”. He added that the Ministry of Health and Wellness will more closely coordinate the flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes. Last week, the JCVI recommended the UK move from a pandemic emergency response to a more targeted approach. The committee advised that, over 2023, the primary course vaccination should move towards protecting individuals at higher risk of severe COVID-19. It also announced the end of the UK’s autumn 2022 booster campaign, stating that the offer of a free first booster – or third dose – will end on 12 Feb. 2023. After that date, the booster offer will no longer be available for people aged 16 to 49 years who are not in a clinical risk group. However, Cayman’s vaccination clinics will remain open to anyone seeking vaccination or boosters. As for vaccine supplies, the Health Services Authority has said there are approximately 2,500 doses of Moderna vaccines in stock with an expiry date of 27 April, as well as about 12,000 doses of the Pfizer shot due to expire on 31 March, with another 500 expiring on 30 April. Cayman to keep COVID vaccines for all, as UK reduces access RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky An 11-year-old boy and a 14-year- old girl were among the latest Cuban nationals to be returned to their homeland on Tuesday, 31 Jan., as the government continues its repatriation exercise. The children, who landed in North Side last month with four other Cubans, were repatriated along with 18 others on a chartered Cayman Airways 737-8 flight from Grand Cayman to Havana. The flight, which left at 8:15am and arrived in Cuba at 9am, was a joint initiative with the Customs and Border Control Service, Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC) and His Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service. Customs and Border Control, in a statement Wednesday, said the most recent batch of repatriated Cubans included 15 males and five females, including the two minors. This latest repatriation flight follows the departure of 16 male Cubans on a Cayman Airways charter flight last month. Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Labour Chris Saunders, in a statement on that repatriation flight, pointed to increasing numbers of such flights in 2023 “as we work to expedite the political asylum application process following the passage of the necessary legal amendments”. “While we collectively have sympathy for the migrants’ economic plight, the Cayman Islands simply cannot absorb these increasing numbers of migrants or afford the burdensome cost of their long-term residence and maintenance here,” Saunders said. Through those new amendments, six of the 20 migrants who left Tuesday were processed expeditiously, according to the CBC. “Those amendments facilitate the expedited processing of those migrants who are clearly unqualified for protection under the 1957 Convention on Refugees and its 1967 Protocol as read with the Customs and Border Control Act,” the CBC said in a statement Tuesday. CBC also said that a Cuban national who had served time in Northward Prison for criminal offences was also repatriated on Tuesday’s flight. “Irregular migrants are required to comply with the laws of the Cayman Islands. Failure to comply may result in their arrest and conviction on criminal charges. As such, there are currently three migrants who have been remanded to Northward Prison for escaping lawful custody from the CBC Detention Center,” the department added. Meanwhile, CBC Director Charles Clifford thanked CBC, WORC and prison staff for a successful execution of the repatriation operation to Cuba. “Such operations are successful because of our strong working relationship with our partner agencies and additional repatriation operations are planned,” he said. According to the CBC, as of 13 Jan., there were 385 Cubans seeking asylum in Cayman. 2 children among 20 Cubans repatriated This latest repatriation flight follows the departure of 16 male Cubans on a Cayman Airways charter flight last month . Cayman will continue to make COVID-19 vaccines available to members of the public. - Photo: File CBC, prisons and WORC staff prepare for a repatriation flight to Cuba. - Photo: Submitted cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023 6NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky The Ministry of Health and Wellness says it is working on determining the prevalence of dementia cases in the Cayman Islands, acknowledging that the statistics currently available are likely an underestimation. Regional and local campaigners last week called on governments to implement National Dementia Plans to prepare for an expected 155% increase in cases over the next three decades. A statement from the ministry, in response to queries from the Cayman Compass, said it is working to address the “availability and reliability of data” relating to all non-communicable diseases, including dementia. “Data is essential in determining the scope of any given issue and the demand for services which is needed in order to set meaningful health policies,” the ministry said. “At present, data on dementia is incomplete as we are only able to readily access data from the Health Services Authority and what has been self-reported in the 2021 Census, both figures likely to be an underestimate of the actual prevalence. “Our team is working not only to understand but also to address these gaps in a reliable, consistent, sustainable and ethical manner. This work will take time to complete.” As part of the Census, individuals were asked to confirm any disabilities they had. A total of 193 people responded that they, or a family member, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, while 182 said they suffered from dementia. According to HSA statistics released by the Ministry of Health in 2021, there were 1,053 people in Cayman diagnosed with dementia, the majority of whom had Alzheimer’s. In its recent response to the Compass, the ministry said, while it recognises the importance of this issue, and has identified it within the list of key areas of concern, “our current efforts are focused on building foundation”. National plans “This foundation will serve as the structure needed to develop relevant and attainable national plans in general. As announced in August 2022, our approach is now data-driven,” the ministry noted. Dorothy Davis, chair of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands, has said funding is needed locally to establish a day-care facility to help care for individuals suffering from dementia. In its statement, the ministry said it had received correspondence from the UK branch of Alzheimer’s Disease International on behalf of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands, including a letter informing Health Minister Sabrina Turner of the global state of Alzheimer’s and dementia and to ask for general support, and a second letter related specifically to the 2022 Healthcare Conference on non- communicable diseases. “To date, the Ministry has not received any specific requests from ADACI when it comes to the formulation of a National Dementia Plan, nor have any requests for funding been submitted by ADACI to the Ministry since 2018,” the ministry stated. It encouraged the charity to apply for funding support and to use the ministry’s communication channels to continue the dialogue on the issue. It added, “The Ministry of Health and Wellness looks forward to engaging ADACI and other community advocates to work on a comprehensive national plan for dementia when it has completed the present groundwork.” Utility regulator OfReg has appointed seven members of the public to the Cayman Islands first Consumer Council. The new council’s purpose is to represent consumers and protect their rights by identifying and advising the regulator on issues affecting them across the utilities sector. The council’s role includes gathering statistics and providing reports and proposals to OfReg on consumer issues. The new council is chaired by George R. Ebanks and includes Tony Catalanotto, Judy Dilbert, J. Paul Meyer, Megan Ritch, Alanna Warwick-Smith and Natalie Holder-Wellington as council members. In a statement on behalf of the new council, Ebanks said, “I wish to commend OfReg for having the foresight and wisdom in establishing the Consumer Council. The Council is not a formal committee of OfReg and will be operating autonomously but will be active on behalf of consumers in making proposals and providing advice to OfReg for further action. “Under my Chairmanship, the Council will aim to discharge its duties by seeking out the views of each and every consumer of these Islands. To be successful, we must be an active conduit through which the average ‘man on the street’ consumer can, and must, have a seat at the table of regulatory compliance and transparency.” Ebanks stressed the council’s commitment to become the voice of consumer complaints in the utilities sector, by ensuring the progress of complaints to the management level of OfReg for formal processing. He also promised the council would represent consumers across the Cayman Islands by seeking information about related matters as well as the views of consumers by holding public meetings in each district, including Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. “The Council will be a strong advocate and demonstrate to the average consumer that the Council is on their side as we develop a partnership with them that reflects their views and ensures that OfReg will be confident in our reports to them,” Ebanks said. The Consumer Council will report directly to OfReg CEO Peter Gough. “OfReg has a statutory obligation to represent and protect the rights of the consumer in the utility sectors,” Gough said. “The new Consumer Council is a crucial element of ensuring we do so effectively, and we look forward to working with the Chair and the rest of the Council Members in fulfilling our responsibilities to consumers in the Cayman Islands.” OfReg is looking for a local representative for the Sister Islands and interested persons are asked to email Daniel.lee@ofreg.ky. The council can be contacted by email at ofregconsumercouncil@gmail.com or calling 949-9307 or 516-9885. Health ministry exploring prevalence of dementia OfReg appoints Cayman’s first Consumer Council Back row, from left, J. Paul Meyer, Alanna Warwick-Smith, Tony Catalanotto, Natalie Holder-Wellington. Front row, from left, Peter Gough, CEO, OfReg; George R. Ebanks, council chair; Megan Ritch. The Ministry of Health and Wellness says data on dementia is 'incomplete'. According to HSA statistics released by the Ministry of Health in 2021, there were 1,053 people in Cayman diagnosed with dementia, the majority of whom had Alzheimer’s. cayman compass 7 news N news WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023Mass_HNW_NRG_Grey_GreyLine_Inset_OuterMask_CMYK IMPORTANT NOTICE: US$ Prime Increase Following the February 1, 2023, announcement by the U.S. Federal Reserve to increase the U.S. Fed rate by 0.25%, RBC Royal Bank will be increasing our U.S. Prime rate by 0.25% to 7.75% effective March 8, 2023. ®/™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. MORGAN WALLEN THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW LUKE COMBS GOING, GOING, GONE NATE SMITH WHISKEY ON YOU KANE BROWN HEAVEN LANEY WILSON HEART LIKE A TRUCK CARLEY PEARCE WHAT HE DIDN'T DO DIERKS BENTLEY GOLD COUNTRY COUNTDOWN 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10 10 TOP TOP 10 10 HOSTED BY DR DOUG 11 JORDAN DAVIS WHAT MY WORLD SPINS AROUND TUNE INTO CAYMAN COUNTRY ROOSTER 101.9FM'S AFTERNOON DRIVE WITH DR DOUG EVERY FRIDAY AT 5PM TO HEAR THE LIST! JASON ALDEAN THAT'S WHAT TEQUILA DOES GABBY BARRETT PICK ME UP RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Former Premier Alden McLaughlin has said he was “humbled and honoured” to have been knighted by King Charles III, a moment that he said will remain with him for all his life. “As I knelt there, before the King and he tapped each of my shoulders with his sword, it felt surreal. I still pinch myself that this once little Caymanian boy, has been knighted,” McLaughlin told the Cayman Compass in an interview on 2 Feb. McLaughlin was formally knighted by King Charles at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on 31 Jan. at which the Red Bay MP was declared a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. Speaking to the Compass from London, he said he dedicated the honour to the Caymanian people. “It was indeed one of those occasions which I shall always cherish and always remember. I am humbled and honoured to have received this for my work and my contributions to the Cayman Islands and our people, and it is to the people of the Cayman Islands that I dedicate this knighthood,” McLaughlin said. McLaughlin is the second Caymanian to be knighted; Sir Vassel Johnson received the honour in 1994. The former premier was among the last to receive a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2021, as part of her final New Year Honours list. McLaughlin, 61, was accompanied to London by his wife Kim, sons Daegan and Caelan, and sisters Elizabeth McLaughlin and Debra McLaughlin. Recounting the experience, McLaughlin said the investiture is a moment that “will stay with me for the rest of my life”. “As our car swept up the long drive approaching the historic Windsor Castle, whose foundations were begun in 1070 AD, [it] was one of the most incredible and awesome experiences I have ever had. I was completely overwhelmed by the place and the moment,” he said. He said he was filled with awe as he entered the castle and walked into the lobby, which was “filled with all sorts of historical relics, in particular, guns and armour and various items belonging to the Royal Family through the ages”. He said although there were a hundred or more persons receiving honours from King Charles on 31 Jan., he was one of only two knights who were invested that day. Chatting with the King As he reflected on the experience, McLaughlin reminded that King Charles, formerly the Prince of Wales, was someone he got to know “fairly well, and with whom I had various experiences over the course of many years, most notably his visit to Cayman in 2019”. It was this familiarity that led to the King conversing with him at the ceremony. “The King took the opportunity to enquire about how well Cayman was doing, whether the economy had recovered from the effects of COVID-19, and indeed enquired about how well the green agenda for the environment was coming along. I think some people present were a bit surprised at the length of time that he took to speak to me,” he added. Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart was on hand for the celebratory dinner in London following McLaughlin’s investiture. “Delighted to celebrate this evening with Sir Alden and Lady Kim McLaughlin on the occasion of his investiture as a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George today at Windsor Castle,” McTaggart tweeted from his official Twitter page on 31 Jan. Among the others who travelled to the UK to celebrate McLaughlin's investiture were former legislator Lucille Seymour, and his Opposition colleagues David Wight and Barbara Conolly. Governor Martyn Roper, announcing McLaughlin’s knighthood in 2021, said it was “an outstanding personal achievement for former Premier McLaughlin, one of the most important and impactful political leaders in Cayman over the last 21 years. “It is a significant moment for our islands. This historic award is only the second ever Knighthood to a Caymanian since the first in the 1990s.” McLaughlin, Cayman’s first premier to serve two consecutive terms, was instrumental in securing the Island’s Constitution Order in 2009, as well as the subsequent changes in 2019, which included renaming the Legislative Assembly as the House of Parliament. Alden McLaughlin knighted by King Charles Sir Alden McLaughlin shows his medal following his investiture at Windsor Castle on 31 Jan. - Photo: Submitted cayman compass 8 news N news WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023cayman compass 9 WEEKLY, 3-9 FEBRUARY 2023Next >