Ghost Pepper Wings Royal visit for Cayman Page 5 Pageant in doubt following beauty queen conviction Page 7 In photos: Walking for Baby Nolan Page 28 Ghost Pepper Wings Which way now? Your most trusted news source Established 1965 cayman compass Will new highway plan make a difference? Pages 20-23 Photo: Commissioned by Cayman Compass $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 17-23 February 2023Matinees (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 cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 17-23 FEBRUARY 2023 DJ Renato sentenced to 16.5 years in jail for rape Renato Renaldo Harris has been jailed for 16-and-a-half years for two counts of rape, during which he sexually assaulted the victim while she was in a drunken state and, a second time, a few hours later when she awoke. Justice Marlene Carter handed down the prison sentence against the former DJ earlier on Wednesday, 15 Feb., for the rapes which took place in July 2018. Harris, 40, was initially tried by Carter in a judge-alone hearing in September 2022 with guilty verdicts returned three months later. The incidents occurred following a night out in 2018 when the victim crossed paths with Harris at a bar on West Bay Road. During the trial, the woman said she accepted an invitation into Harris’ Prospect home but did not remember anything else, apart from waking up in his bed naked the following morning, when Harris sexually assaulted her a second time despite her cries and screams for him to stop. He was taken into custody following the sentencing on 15 Feb. Carter has ordered that time already spent in custody be deducted from his sentence. Driver killed, off-duty officer injured in Brac crash A collision involving two vehicles in Cayman Brac has left one driver dead and the other, an off-duty police officer, in hospital. The incident marks the first fatal crash of the year. According to police, the collision took place after 1pm on Tuesday, 14 Feb., near the intersection of Polack Drive and Heights Road. One driver was pronounced dead on the scene by medical personnel; a passenger was reportedly uninjured, the RCIPS said. The off-duty officer driving the second vehicle was transported to Faith Hospital for treatment of “what appear to be non-life- threatening injuries”. Drug boat sinks after ramming Coast Guard vessel Three men were arrested and packages of drugs they threw overboard were seized after they rammed their boat, which later sank, into the side of a Cayman Islands Coast Guard vessel that attempted to intercept them. Police said the Coast Guard, while on patrol, were notified of the boat travelling towards Grand Cayman on Sunday, 12 Feb. When they approached it, the boat picked up speed and tried to evade the Coast Guard vessel, which prompted a chase. During the chase, police said, officers saw packages being thrown overboard from the boat. “As the CICG closed the distance between them, the operator of the vessel being followed attempted to evade capture by running his vessel into the side of the CICG vessel on three occasions,” police said. The Coast Guard eventually stopped the boat and the three men on board were questioned. During this time, their boat began to take on water and eventually sunk. They were arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the importation of controlled drugs. All three were taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital, as they reported having injuries. They were released from hospital later that night. A number of packages were recovered from the ocean and handed over to the RCIPS. The three men, ages 33 and 37 of West Bay, and 37 of North Side, were charged with one count each of illicit trafficking, importing ganja, reckless and dangerous act, damage to property and resisting/ obstructing arrest. The Coast Guard vessel sustained some damage, but remains operational, police said, “and luckily, none of its crew members sustained serious injuries”. New Mental Health Commission chair appointed Fiona McDougall has been appointed as the new chair of the Cayman Islands Mental Health Commission. McDougall, of local company Healthy Futures Ltd., has been a member of the commission since 2017. Her new role, approved by Cabinet, became effective on 1 Jan. 2023 and will continue until 31 Dec. 2025, according to a gazetted government notice. She has replaced Dr. Marc Lockhart, who opted not to return to the post after expressing frustration over the pace of progress on the long-term mental health facility, among other concerns. Cabinet has re-appointed Cline Glidden Jr. as deputy chair, also through 31 Dec. 2025. Nurse Dympna Carten and Carla (Jackie) Neil were also both re-appointed as members for the same term. They are joined by Dr. Omotayo J. Bernard, who has been appointed as a member effective immediately until 31 Dec. 2025. Other commissioners include Dr. Enoka Richens, Sutton Burke and Cheryl Myles. 4 arrested for DUI following weekend collisions Police arrested nine people on suspicion of DUI over the 10-12 Feb. weekend, including four who had been involved in collisions. The RCIPS said eight of the arrests took place overnight Friday, 10-11 Feb. In one incident, the driver of a vehicle attempted to evade a checkpoint on West Bay Road by making a sudden turn onto a side street and then fleeing on foot. He was later located and arrested on suspicion of DUI. All nine arrested over the weekend are facing the possibility of losing their drivers’ licences for at least one year if convicted. If any are repeat offenders, the penalties increase, and further repeat offences carry the possibility of jail time, the RCIPS said. In addition to the nine DUIs, three people were also arrested over the weekend for driving while disqualified. “We are forever vigilant, looking out for persons who potentially compromise the safety of other road users,” Superintendent Brad Ebanks said in the statement. “Fortunately, only one person received minor injuries as a result of being involved in a collision and has subsequently been discharged from hospital.” The blood-alcohol level of two of the people arrested for DUI was found to be under 0.1%, which was the previous legal limit for drink driving. That limit was changed to 0.07% last year. news in brief Fiona McDougall, of Healthy Futures Ltd., is the new chair of the Mental Health Commission. - Photo: David GoddardGovernment considering expanding or moving port NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky The government plans to either expand or move Cayman’s cargo port as it nears capacity, with Breakers being named as the most favourable site if lawmakers opt to relocate the facility. A strategic outline case, released publicly on Wednesday, 15 Feb., notes that the port, which is expected to reach capacity within the next decade, can either be expanded at its current location in George Town Harbour, or a new port can be built at one of five possible sites, of which the quarries at Breakers would be the least damaging to the marine environment. The four other options outlined in the document are Red Bay/ South Sound; North Sound; East End Sound; and Frank Sound, but each of these would involve extensive dredging and impacts on the marine environment. If a new port is to be built, Breakers was put forward as the preferred option because it “offers an excellent basin for a sheltered, deep water port”, and its excavated quarry sites are already deep enough to accommodate the larger cargo ships that the port expects to deal with in coming years, the strategic outline states. Unlike at the other sites, the Breakers location has no marine reserves or marine parks where a channel into the site would be created, it notes. Tourism and Transport Minister Kenneth Bryan announced the plans at a press briefing on Monday, 13 Feb., saying the capacity at the cargo port, which handles 95% of all imports into Cayman, is “currently stretched” – an issue he warned would become “more acute over time”. A decade to build new port The strategic outline case, dated February 2022, was written by Joseph Woods, the Port Authority’s former cruise and security manager and its former port director, who has retired since it was drawn up. In it, Woods notes that building a new deep-water cargo port would likely take more than a decade to complete. Anticipating that controversy is likely to surround building a new port at any location or expanding the existing one by lengthening the pier out further out into the George Town Harbour, the document states, “No matter where any port is situated in the Cayman Islands, there are political and environmental considerations and hurdles to be overcome.” If the port remains in situ, work would need to be done to expand the length of the pier by 300 feet and deepen the water around it to 25 feet and reclaim more of the sea to fill and convert it to land for dock storage. “For a new port, the environmental impact is much greater,” the document notes. “It means cutting a channel and giving up natural vegetation to construct the port, or creating an artificial island in the reef protected sounds. “To lessen that impact, the suggestion is using a location where there were quarries, because once completed, those will be abandoned as useless. Converting them into a deep water port would therefore have a much smaller environmental impact. The benefits, however, are massive. It will provide employment for decades; it will provide for Cayman’s cargo needs for multiple decades; it will enable the diversification of Cayman’s maritime economy in many more ways than is currently possible.” Population growth impacting port capacity The current cargo dock was built in 1975. As Cayman’s population has ramped up over the years, the Port Authority, and the vessels that deliver cargo to it, have been moving closer to capacity, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan pointed out at the Monday press briefing. The strategic outline case noted that every time Cayman’s population increases by 5,000, the number of containers at the port increases by 5,500. It stated that, in 2019, when the population was estimated to be 69,914, the port was handling 32,836 containers. If the population increases to 100,000, that would mean the port would be dealing with approximately 65,836 containers per year – which amounts to 80% of the 82,836 container capacity of the cargo ships currently calling on Cayman. A long-time consideration Expansion of the cargo port was part of the discussions by the previous Progressives administration on the now- aborted plans to build a cruise berthing dock in George Town. There was so much opposition in Cayman to building a cruise pier in the harbour that it almost prompted a people- initiated referendum before the government announced in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 that it was abandoning plans for the berthing pier. The current PACT government has vowed that it will not pursue any plans for a cruise pier. The strategic outline case states that the current facility can only be expanded westward into the sea, and that three-and-a-quarter acres could be gained by filling in the area between the north side of the cargo dock and the south side of Royal Watler cruise tender pier. The cargo pier could be expanded 300 feet more to provide a total of 700 feet of berthing space on the south side of it and 300 feet on the north side of it. Noting that building a larger dock in the George Town Harbour is likely to be controversial, Bryan said the government was starting the process of gathering information about how to solve the cargo capacity question now “so that an informed decision can be made to resolve this pending problem”. “I know this is going to be a very sensitive topic,” he said, adding, “The right thing to do is talk about it now, so we understand it is no longer about cruise passengers. It is about being able to feed our children and ourselves and our people; hence, the reason I want to get ahead of it.” Next steps Cabinet has accepted the strategic outline case on the project and has given approval for an outline business case to be carried out by the Port Authority, which will hire a project manager and engage independent financial experts to help draw up that case report. If the decision is made to build a new cargo port at Breakers or another part of the island, it will leave the existing port in George Town to be used exclusively by cruise ships. It may also enable the relocation of other facilities, including the SOL, Rubis and Home Gas tank farms, currently based in George Town, as well as offer a site for a mega yacht marina. Expanding the port at its current George Town location could cost up to $30 million for construction, and another $35 million for land, a new warehouse and mechanic shop, according to the strategic outline case. It did not give an estimated cost of building a new port in Breakers or elsewhere, saying this would require “a lot more details than this strategic outline provides”. Tourism and Transport Minister says redeveloping the port is vital for Cayman's food security. The Port Authority's cargo facility in George Town handles 95% of all imports into Cayman. - Photo: Alvaro Serey Breakers preferred site for new cargo port “No matter where any port is situated in the Cayman Islands, there are political and environmental considerations and hurdles to be overcome.” Strategic outline case on cargo port redevelopment The strategic outline plan for the cargo port can be viewed at the Ministry of Tourism and Transport webpage: gov.ky/tourism-transport. cayman compass 3 news N news WEEKLY, 17-23 FEBRUARY 20231234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Allotted amount of work (5) 4 Enchanting (7) 8 Female swan (3) 9 Something soon (3,3,3) 10 Take pleasure freely (7) 11 Arctic working dog (5) 13 Surly (6) 15 A grating sound (6) 18 Prevent (5) 19 Narrow-minded (7) 21 Placid and tolerant (4-5) 23 Residue of burning (3) 24 Stonework (7) 25 A sweet Hungarian wine (5) DOWN 1 Young tree (7) 2 Quite certain (2,2,5) 3 Straggle (5) 4 Violent disorder (6) 5 Vividly descriptive (7) 6 Know how to (3) 7 Humble in manner (5) 12 Chitchat (5,4) 14 Model of perfection (7) 16 Terrestrial (7) 17 In offhand manner (6) 18 Abstracted state of mind (5) 20 A view (5) 22 Urgent appeal for help (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17243 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 17243 ACROSS: 1 Stint, 4 Magical, 8 Pen, 9 Any day now, 10 Indulge, 11 Husky, 13 Grumpy, 15 Scrape, 18 Deter, 19 Insular, 21 Easy-going, 23 Ash, 24 Masonry, 25 Tokay. DOWN: 1 Sapling, 2 In no doubt, 3 Trail, 4 Mayhem, 5 Graphic, 6 Can, 7 Lowly, 12 Small talk, 14 Paragon, 16 Earthly, 17 Airily, 18 Dream, 20 Sight, 22 SOS. pic of the week Lemonade stand reaps rewards for Jasmine Over the Christmas season, three enterprising girls set up a lemonade and cookie stand to raise money for Jasmine. When the last dollar had been unfurled and the last quarter counted, it was time to present the cheque for $500 to the non-profit organisation. Valentine’s Day seemed like an apt date for the simple ceremony, as the initiative was fuelled by love and generosity of spirit. Pictured here, from left, are Jasmine director of operations Felicia McLean, Lila Allot, Julianna Suarez, Ellie Croft and Jasmine marketing and fundraising manager Ansley Easterlin. The photo was taken by Ellie’s mother, Tori Croft. I went to the public meeting in Savannah on 9 Feb. about the East-West Arterial extension and the environmental impact assessment was very well presented and explained. We were told that questions could only deal with the EIA. My question was: As this is a massive project looking to the next 30/40 years, will the EIA also be considering future ways of moving people other than cars? The answer I got from the National Roads Authority was there will be provision for electric bikes and scooters and maybe a bus lane, so I think the answer was ‘no’. That is a pity. Bigger, faster roads into a city just means more congestion at bottlenecks getting into the city. (And the NRA did say that an overpass at Grand Harbour is not being considered.) There are many mass transit systems to take people in and out of the city which offer an alternative to cars which would be faster, cheaper, more energy efficient and less damaging to the local environment. Surely these alternatives should be considered when we are evaluating the environmental impact of a six- lane highway. Graham Morse It has recently come to my attention that our government has finally managed to get officers from the Needs Assessment Unit to visit our districts to meet with Caymanians who would not otherwise be able to visit their only office in George Town. This move reflects very well on our government; I commend them for it and I believe it is appreciated by everyone. People will be able to be seen and have their concerns dealt with in a more timely manner than everyone going to one office. I hope that all Caymanians will take advantage of this opportunity. They will get to know the days that NAU is in the districts and let them know their needs so that the services which our government offers can be obtained. We do not want a society that is falling apart like what is happening in so many other parts of the world. We want our Cayman Islands to be beautiful and a safe place to live and visit. Our government has to consider the people’s needs and assist them in every way possible. Tourism is also our main industry and we do not wish for our people to be suffering and neglected. This would be noticed by everyone and have some very drastic and negative effects for our islands. We do not need protests and violent demonstrations. We must work together... [so] that everyone can enjoy [our islands], especially the indigenous Caymanians! Another issue which I think the government should look into is that of housing for Caymanians/ residents. We do NOT want our Islands to be home to homeless people! I would recommend that the NAU look into this issue urgently. If owners of rental properties cannot/will not accept government funds for their properties, then that is a major problem. This problem needs to be addressed immediately! And I would also like to mention that many of these same owners have properties that are being rented and they are doing our government an injustice as they are doing so without a business licence. They are now keeping our government from making revenue for our islands while charging people large sums of money for rent. Also, they are risking the lives of our residents as many of these places are not even suitable for rent; many of them only have one entrance/exit. This is very dangerous! These conditions are very unsafe and these properties should never have been built. [This] must be looked into by our Planning Department immediately. Dora A.E. Ebanks On a recent visit, my car developed a flat and I pulled into the Countryside Shopping Village. I called my rental company. They were very nice and said a person would be coming to help. In the meantime, I changed the tyre. No less than eight people offered to help me change my tyre. Every time a person came out of the restaurant I was in front of, they offered to help. It was very uplifting to receive so much unsolicited support. And, I must add, this is the same attitude I have experienced in my many years of coming here. It’s wonderful and heartwarming. Peter Longo Visitor uplifted by Caymankind Urgent issues need to be addressed Mass transit is the way forward Letters to the editor cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 17-23 FEBRUARY 2023 Prince Edward, centre, at the groundbreaking of the Little Cayman Research Centre in 2005. This year marks his 20th anniversary as the Central Caribbean Marine Institute patron. - Photo: File Prince Edward toured Cayman Brac in February 2009 to inspect the damage caused by Hurricane Paloma. – Photo: Norma Connolly Prince Edward and Sophie, Earl and Countess of Wessex NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, will visit the Cayman Islands this month. The royal couple will arrive on Monday, 20 Feb. and depart on Wednesday, 22 Feb., the government confirmed this morning. Countess Sophie is scheduled to officially open the annual Agriculture Show on Ash Wednesday, by ringing the cow bell, a statement announcing the royal couple’s visit noted. The couple’s first engagement will be a meeting at Government House with Governor Martyn Roper and Premier Wayne Panton. This will be followed by a reception with invited guests, hosted by the governor and his wife Elisabeth Roper at Government House. Prince Edward, youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has been a longstanding patron of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute, and he will visit the organisation on Little Cayman in celebration of the 20th anniversary of his patronage, and to launch CCMI’s Coral Fund, a government statement on his visit noted. The premier will host a lunch for Prince Edward on Little Cayman to discuss climate change and sustainability in the Cayman Islands. Later, the prince will spend time with the Cayman Islands Coast Guard, observing their maritime capabilities, inspect a guard of honour from the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, and see the Cayman Islands Regiment demonstrate their disaster resilience response. The Countess of Wessex, as global ambassador of local charity 100 Women in Finance, will support its causes during the visit. After opening the Agriculture Show on 22 Feb., she will take a tour of the showgrounds, accompanied by the premier. She is also scheduled to visit the YMCA Field of Dreams in George Town to meet children attending the mid-term break camp. The Earl and Countess will congratulate Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awardees before departing on the next leg of their trip. Roper said in the statement that the royal couple is visiting the Cayman Islands “not only to support two excellent charities that enjoy their patronage, but to also spend time meeting our community”. He added, “The Agricultural Show will be an opportunity for Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex to talk to people from different districts and learn more about Caymanian culture. I am pleased that His Royal Highness will spend time on Little Cayman as well as Grand Cayman, supporting CCMI and also hearing about the Cayman Government’s sustainability and climate resiliency plans. “I know the real affection that Caymanians feel towards The Royal Family and the visit is an opportunity to celebrate our links with the UK and showcase what our islands have to offer.” Roper, who is in his last weeks as governor of the Cayman Islands, noted that his tenure in Cayman began with the visit by the former Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, “and it is fitting that my time here in Cayman should end with a visit from his brother, HRH The Earl of Wessex. I look forward to welcoming the Royal couple to the Cayman Islands. ” Panton, in the statement, welcomed the upcoming royal visit. “This is also a special time as we celebrate the 54th year of the Cayman Islands Agricultural Show,” he said. “We are honoured that Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Wessex, is interested in learning about Caymanian agriculture and our youth development initiatives. We also thank His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex, for supporting CCMI and his openness to hearing about our climate resiliency framework. “His Royal Highness will also observe our hardworking, uniformed personnel who diligently serve this country. We look forward to welcoming Their Royal Highnesses, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, to our shores on 20 February. I am confident this time will be forever cherished and fondly remembered.” This will be Prince Edward’s sixth visit to the Cayman Islands. Prior to the 2016 visit, he flew to Cayman Brac to examine the damage caused by Hurricane Paloma, which devastated the island in 2009. cayman compass 5 news N news WEEKLY, 17-23 FEBRUARY 2023 Royal couple Prince Edward and Countess Sophie to visit Sophie, Countess of Wessex, left, during her last visit to the Cayman Islands in 2016, with Amanda Pullinger, CEO of 100 Women in Finance, and Christina Bodden, 100 Women in Finance board member. - Photo: Submittedcayman compass 6 news N news WEEKLY, 17-23 FEBRUARY 2023 NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Eight years after discontinuing the route, Cayman Airways will relaunch direct flights from Grand Cayman to Panama City from 26 June this year, in a bid to tap into the Latin American market. Economy-class tickets on the twice- a-week flights, after tax, are expected to cost US$390. The flights will operate on Mondays and Thursdays, arriving around noon in Panama to link up with connecting flights to other destinations in the region, Fabian Whorms, president and CEO Cayman Airways, said at a press briefing on Monday announcing the new route. “This puts us right in that sweet spot for connections... inbound to Cayman from Panama, and connections for passengers leaving Cayman going elsewhere and connecting in Panama,” he said. He added, “Serving Panama is not just about serving Panama. Tocumen Airport is one of the best hubs in the world when it comes to connectivity and in-transit travel.” Cayman Airlines is partnering with Panama’s national airline Copa, which uses Tocumen as its hub and which is affiliated with United Airlines. “Their connectivity throughout Central and South America, Latin America in general, is phenomenal,” he said. Whorms noted that as many European carriers use Panama as a hub in Latin America, the new route will offer passengers from Europe another option to travel to Cayman. Original Panama route discontinued in 2015 The airline previously ran a seasonal summer route direct to Panama, from 2012 to 2015, which Whorms insisted had not been a loss-maker, as he explained the rationale behind relaunching it. “All of those flights covered what we call our ‘variable costs’, which meant they made a contribution to our fixed costs or overheads. So those flights were not loss- making flights. We are not going into this venture... thinking about potential loss [on that route]. We are very confident that it will cover its costs again,” he said. He explained that the airline stopped flying to Panama eight years ago when it launched a new Dallas route and needed the 747-300 aircraft it had been operating to and from Panama to ensure “reliability and redundancy within our fleet in order to make Dallas successful”, as it was a strategically important tourism route. Since then, Cayman Airways has stopped flying direct to Dallas, as Whorms said other carriers had begun operating on that route so the airline looked to other destinations “in order to help drive tourism within the Cayman Islands”. Reducing flights to Havana In order to facilitate the new Panama route, Cayman Airways is reducing the number of flights it operates on its Grand Cayman-Havana route. “This is giving us the extra available capacity that we can use towards a flight to Panama,” Whorms said. At one point recently, CAL was flying to Havana five times a week as demand had picked up, but that has tapered off somewhat now, he said, and currently, the airline flies four times a week to Havana. That will be reduced to twice a week, at weekends, Whorms said. Medical tourism target He added that as well as leisure tourists, passengers seeking medical care in Cayman are also among the target market for the Panama route. “Cayman is a very developed country when it comes to health services,” he said. “Health tourism is something that is quite significant and is growing more and more all the time. “We do know that we get a lot of health tourism from Latin America and Central America, and we expect, with this service, we are creating an environment that allow that sector to grow.” Business hub Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, who also spoke at the press briefing, said Panama City was a hub through which passengers and cargo from Central and South America could pass on their way to Cayman. As well as leisure travellers, Bryan said the proximity of the Colon Free Zone to Panama City may make the route a popular one for business travellers. Noting that the free-trade zone of Colon, which is located on Panama’s Atlantic side and which is the largest free port in the Americas, is less than 50 miles from Panama City, he said, “It is dedicated to re-exporting a wide variety of goods and merchandise from Panama to Latin American and the Caribbean. “There are more than 3,000 established companies in the zone, representing an attractive option for travellers from a trade and business perspective.” He added that there were several Caymanian companies that conduct business through Panama. He said in 2022, 6,498 visitors from Latin America came to Cayman. “With the direct service available to travellers, we are anticipating seeing more positive growth from this region,” he said. Tourism visas Nationals from several Latin American countries currently require tourism visas before they can enter Cayman, including Panama’s neighbours Colombia, Nicaragua and Honduras. In light of the new route to Panama, Bryan said he had discussed the issue of making changes for visa requirements with Deputy Premier Chris Saunders, who is in charge of border control matters, and the office of Governor Martyn Roper, from a national security perspective, “so they are aware that this is my want and my wish”. But he noted that there are also several large South American countries, such as Brazil and Argentina, that do not require tourist visas for Cayman, making it easy for them to access Cayman via the Panama City hub. NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky On average, 60% of seats on Cayman Airways’ direct flights to Los Angeles have been filled since the route launched in early November last year, according to the airline’s president Fabian Whorms. And future bookings for the summer season will bring that average up to about 70%, the CAL boss said. Speaking at a press briefing Monday, 13 Feb. to announce a new route to Panama City, Whorms, in response to Compass questions about the performance of the LAX flights, said, “At this point in time, we’re going through a bit of a slow period on many of our routes. The airline business is very seasonal, so this is normal. What I would say is LAX right now is performing just as well as New York is, and we’re quite happy with that.” Saying that the performance is “living up to exactly what we expected it to be,” Whorms noted that, in terms of percentage load factor, “between the very high peaks and some of the troughs, we are averaging about 60% percent overall. Going into the summer, we’re looking at a much higher load factor, about 70%.” Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, speaking at the press briefing, noted that many of seats in that 60% load-factor figure were within the more expensive business-class sections of the planes. “It’s a different ratio of profitability,” he said. “If you have 60% just in the back, it’s totally different from 60% of the front and some of the regular seats. The good news is that many of the passengers who are booking, are booking out the business-class seats first.” Whorms agreed, saying, “Even on flights where the load factor may be 60% booked, the 16 business-class seats are generally always sold, and we are commanding quite a good premium on the LAX market because that is the type of market that desires that type of service. “You can’t just look at it in terms of the number of passengers, you look at the yield, which is the revenue that the flight generates, and, again, we’re completely happy with what we’re seeing.” The airline launched the weekly LAX route with much fanfare on 6 Nov., stating that it would be a permanent fixture on its itinerary. Previously, Whorms has stated that the airline’s new fleet of Boeing 737-8 planes have a carrying capacity of 160 passengers, and he expects around 4,000 passengers to utilise the service annually. Cayman Airways: Average Cayman- LAX flights are 60% full Cayman Airways to resume Panama route From left, Cayman Airways CEO and president Fabian Whorms, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan and deputy chairman of the Cayman Airways board Kris Bergstrom announce the resumption of the Grand Cayman-Panama City route. “[B]etween the very high peaks and some of the troughs, we are averaging about 60% percent overall. Going into the summer, we’re looking at a much higher load factor, about 70%.” Tourism Minister Kenneth BryanLUKE COMBS GOING, GOING, GONE JASON ALDEAN THAT'S WHAT TEQUILA DOES KANE BROWN THANK YOU MORGAN WALLEN THOUGHT YOU SHOULD NOW CARLY PEARCE WHAT HE DIDN'T DO DIERKS BENTLEY GOLD BLAKE SHELTON NO BODY COUNTRY COUNTDOWN 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10 10 TOP TOP 10 10 HOSTED BY DR DOUG 11 LANEY WILSON HEART LIKE A TRUCK TUNE INTO CAYMAN COUNTRY ROOSTER 101.9FM'S AFTERNOON DRIVE WITH DR DOUG EVERY FRIDAY AT 5PM TO HEAR THE LIST! NATE SMITH WHISKEY ON YOU KEITH URBAN BROWN EYES BABY cayman compass 7 news N news WEEKLY, 17-23 FEBRUARY 2023 NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Tiffany Conolly has been formally stripped of her title as Miss Cayman Islands Universe, following her conviction for assault last week, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan announced at a press briefing at which he said his ministry was considering pulling out as the pageant’s franchise holder in Cayman. Bryan said permission had been received from the Miss Universe Organization to remove Conolly as Miss Cayman Islands Universe, which she won in August last year, and hand the title over to first runner-up Chloe Powery-Doxey. “My understanding is that now the court proceedings have reached this stage, the committee now has the authority and has agreed to relieve Miss Conolly of the crown,” he said. “I further understand that the committee has taken action in this regard, and Miss Conolly has been notified of this decision.” Powery-Doxey represented Cayman in the Miss Universe pageant last month. Dropping the franchise The Ministry of Tourism is considering dropping the beauty pageant franchise, Bryan confirmed, following the Conolly situation, as well as “new rules” the Miss Universe Organization is implementing. Bryan said it had become apparent during the recent controversy that his ministry, under its franchise agreement with the international organisers, “has very limited authority to make decisions independently of the Miss Universe Organization”. He noted that due to the contract the ministry had with the organisation, Conolly could not be removed as Miss Cayman earlier. He added that changes were taking place within the Miss Universe Organization “and we currently do not know whether the franchise holder will be obligated to accept these new rules or whether they will be optional”. For example, he said, he had been caught off-guard when the organisation had emailed his ministry recently “out of the blue” to say it had seven days to take part in a bidding process. Previously, he said, the franchise was available at an established price and the franchise holder was given the option to renew. “Then, with a very short window, we were notified that we have to put a bid in without an opportunity to do proper analysis,” he said. “It’s situations like that, that gives reason for concern. Also situations like we, unfortunately, had to go through with the former Miss Cayman, Miss Tiffany, whereby we couldn’t make decisions on behalf of the country on what we wanted to do, because the franchise agreement obligated us to ask them first. They said, no, we couldn’t do anything.” The minister added, “In light of these concerns and uncertainty, I am seriously considering whether the ministry, acting on behalf of the Cayman Islands government, should continue with the franchise.” Private sector franchisee an option He suggested that Cayman may be better or equally served if a private individual or a private sector company took over the franchise, as has happened with the Miss Cayman Islands World pageant. However, if the government does continue with the franchise, “drastic changes in how we approach Miss Cayman Islands Universe and our relationship with the franchise” would need to be made, he warned. Bryan said the Miss Cayman Islands Universe Committee had reached out to the Miss Universe Organization for further clarity on the new rules and their potential effect on contestants. He added that he intended to review the franchise with his colleagues in caucus and Cabinet. Conolly was found guilty on 9 Feb. of assaulting her ex-boyfriend and his father, damaging both men’s vehicles, and assaulting police. She is due to be sentenced on 20 April. Pageant future in doubt as Conolly stripped of title Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan and MP Heather Bodden with Tiffany Conolly on 6 Aug. 2022 when she was crowned Miss Cayman Islands Universe. - Photo: Miss Cayman Islands Universe Facebook pageNORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Cabinet has approved new regulations requiring the advertising of temporary job vacancies on the Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman JobsCayman portal prior to submitting temporary work permit applications for the positions. According to a statement issued by WORC on Friday, 10 Feb., the new requirement means that, from 31 March, employers must advertise all local full-time and part-time job vacancies on the JobsCayman portal for 14 days prior to the submission of a temporary work permit – similar to the process for full work permits. “We hope that this new regulation will encourage both job-seeking Caymanians and employers wishing to attract and retain talent to register on the portal now that it’s a requirement to post all available jobs whether full-time or temporary before a work permit is issued,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Labour Chris Saunders. In 2022, WORC processed 55,000 applications. Of those, it approved 21,040 temporary work permits, the statement noted. And in January this year, it approved 1,830 temporary work permits. “The high numbers could be used as an indication that employers are using it as a first step to import labour instead of taking the time to find a suitable job seeker locally,” the statement said. Acting Interim Director of WORC Jeremy Scott said, “This new requirement means that more jobs will be posted on the portal, therefore WORC will be better able to assess the employment industry, as well as forecast what required skills job seekers need in an effort to close gaps that are in particular employment categories. “Having this data will be vital to building a strong and capable Caymanian workforce.” He encouraged all Caymanians seeking employment to register on the JobsCayman portal. The new advertising requirement does not apply when submitting a temporary work permit for people who will enter Cayman for a period of 30 days or less, such as legal counsel acting in any matter; a visiting medical practitioner or other specialists in the medical field; a consultant; an overseas vendor or travelling salesperson; or anyone coming on short-term assignment. Under the new regulations, if a Caymanian applies for an advertised position but is unsuccessful and a temporary work permit is submitted, the employer will need to provide the names, qualifications, working experience and background of all applicants who applied for the position, reasons the chosen applicant was hired, and details as to why the Caymanian job-seeker was not. The statement noted that employers who fail to advise WORC that a Caymanian or holder of a Residency and Employment Rights Certificate (RERC) has applied for the position for which the employer is seeking a temporary work permit, or if the employer provides inaccurate or incomplete information in an attempt to deceive the director of WORC either by act or omission, could face summary conviction and a fine of $5,000. It stated that employers who are not familiar with the JobsCayman portal can find ‘How To’ guides to help them register and post job ads on the WORC website. Both stages require backend authorisation by WORC administrators, so the department recommends employers allow two to five business days for the process to be completed. The regulations also provide that the director of WORC may grant a temporary work permit advertisement waiver under “very exceptional circumstances” where there is clear evidence that a waiver is urgently required or where the employer is seeking to employ a babysitter, nanny, specialist caregiver, caretaker, private chef, butler or any other worker in a personal capacity. | For more information or to access the JobsCayman portal, visit www.worc.ky. WORC can also be contacted by email at WORC@gov.ky. Temp jobs must be advertised at WORC before permit application Minister for Labour Chris Saunders hopes new regulations will encourage job-seeking Caymanians. cayman compass 8 WEEKLY, 17-23 FEBRUARY 2023The Walkers Scholarship and Legal Training Programme is focused on preparing Caymanians like you for a career of excellence. Mentorship, opportunities, reputation, experience - there is so much MORE to discover at Walkers. Applications for legal scholarships, legal internships and articles of clerkship/QWE are now being accepted. Please visit the Careers section of our website. The deadline for applications is 28 February at 5 pm (Cayman time). Walkers scholarships give you MORE Bermuda | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Dubai | Guernsey | Hong Kong | Ireland | Jersey | London | Singapore walkersglobal.com Making financial services work Lauren Mae Vernon, articled clerk, 2018 legal scholarship recipient @WalkersGlobal@WalkersLawFirm cayman compass 9 WEEKLY, 17-23 FEBRUARY 2023Next >