Stackin’ up Single Stacker Double Stacker Triple Stacker Quadruple Stacker cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 compass $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 24 February - 2 March 2023 In photos: Agriculture Show draws thousands Pages 16-17 Confusion reigns over beach rights Pages 24-25 Royal treatment Whirlwind visit to Cayman for Prince Edward and Countess Sophie Pages 5, 10-11 Photo: Taneos RamsayElvis McKeever charges dropped after Brackers removed from jury The case against Elvis McKeever, of Cayman Brac, has been thrown out after Justice Philip St. John-Stevens said it was “entirely inappropriate” to proceed after it came to light that judicial staff had been consistently removing potential jurors from jury pools because they lived in the Sister Islands. Former political candidate McKeever, 64, was due to stand trial on a charge of transmitting a dangerous communication and another of misuse of an information and communications technology network to defraud, abuse, threaten or harass, in connection with a live stream on Facebook in 2021. McKeever pleaded not guilty, and a jury trial was set for late 2022. However, during a case management hearing, his lawyer questioned whether it would be fair for the case against him to proceed with a panel of jurors that excluded Cayman Brac residents. St. John-Stevens said that although the criminal court had no jurisdiction over the formalities of the jury-selection process, there was an inherent responsibility to uphold the public confi dence in the judicial system. “Giving the circumstances of this extraordinary case, this court fi nds that it would be entirely inappropriate to allow the matter to proceed,” said the judge, who then dismissed the charges against McKeever and released him. Reon Porter shortlisted for climate change future leaders award Caymanian youth environmental activist Reon Porter has been shortlisted for a Climate Coalition Green Heart Hero Award, an international accolade aimed at celebrating future youth leaders. He is one of four nominees up for the Green Heroes future leaders award. “I am truly humbled and grateful to be nominated for the Green Heart Hero Award,” he said in response to Compass queries. “It was an unexpected surprise and I never imagined that I would receive such recognition. This nomination is a testament to my hard work and dedication towards making the world a better and sustainable place. “I am honored to be part of this amazing initiative and look forward to helping others in my community make a positive impact on our environment.” Porter was one of three Caymanian students selected last year to represent Cayman at youth sessions at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP27, in Egypt. He was invited to take part in a roundtable discussion for young people from Small Island States and Latin America at the conference, where they expressed their concerns and offered suggestions to Selwin Charles Hart, special adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action. Porter described COP27 as “an amazing, one-of-a-kind experience”, especially being a young person from a Caribbean British Overseas Territory. “It really opened my eyes to what the world is doing in our fi ght against climate change,” he said. “It was also the fi rst COP where there was a youth and children pavilion... To see young activists, politicians, businesses, civilians, and royalty all under one roof for one goal was truly inspirational. I took away so many memories, knowledge, and connections.” Fatal collision case delayed by reports Outstanding crash scene reports have delayed the case of Jordan Telford, who is accused of causing the death of Shemaiah Grant in a collision in May 2021. “The position is that the matter cannot move ahead today as we are awaiting our reports,” said Telford’s attorney at the hearing on Friday, 17 Feb. “We are asking that the matter be moved to the next mentions list, at which time we expect that pleas may be entered.” Grant died shortly after 8:30 pm on Sunday, 2 May 2021 when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a vehicle. Telford was arrested in connection with the collision and subsequently charged with one count of causing death by careless driving and one of driving while impaired. He has been released on bail and is due to return to court on 3 March. Deadline nears for input on banknote redesign The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority is seeking public input on the redesign of the Cayman Islands banknotes. Until 2 March, residents and citizens will have the option, through an online survey, to select from specifi c themes and submit additional ideas of their own. Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the Cayman Islands currency in circulation will be phased out and replaced with a new design featuring the image of King Charles III. The survey page explains that “to ensure we develop banknotes that Cayman Islands citizens can identify with and be proud to use as their money, the Cayman Islands Government is, therefore, seeking public input on the redesign of the banknotes”. Public participation in the survey is anonymous. The response data will be used to determine a preferred theme that will inform the new banknote designs. The two-question survey asks participants specifi cally to choose whether the new banknotes should feature Cayman Islands national heroes, national symbols from fl ora and fauna, local marine life, maintain the current themes and colours, or show other themes. It also asks if there is a need to incorporate design features for visually impaired people. At the end of 2022, there were $156.8 million worth of Cayman Islands banknotes in circulation. Matinees (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 BIRCHGILLIES weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with a 30% chance of showers. SEA STATE Moderate with a wave height of 3 to 5 feet. WINDS East to northeast at 10 to 15 knots. 86°F HIGH 75°F LOW Members of the public have until 2 March to give their input into the redesign of Cayman’s banknotes via an online survey. - Image: Courtesy of CIMA Green Heart Heroes nominee Reon Porter was one of three Caymanian students selected last year to represent Cayman at COP27 in Egypt.- Photo: Submitted news in brief cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 24 FEBRUARY 2 MARCH 2023cayman compass 3 WEEKLY, 24 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 20231234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Supreme ruler (7) 5 Gathering of lace as trimming (5) 8 Assume superior manner (3,2,4) 9 Gratuity (3) 10 Every one (4) 12 18c English furniture designer (8) 14 Distant in manner (6) 15 Contrive (6) 17 Capital of Indonesia (8) 18 Buy and sell (4) 21 Append (3) 22 Hear rumour about (3,4,2) 24 Fish of salmon family (5) 25 Bondage (7) DOWN 1 Tree of Acer genus (5) 2 Free from deductions (3) 3 Use bombastic language (4) 4 Pinnacle (6) 5 Uncommunicative (8) 6 Allow very little margin (3,2,4) 7 Wide continuous area (7) 11 Fluctuate (4,3,2) 13 Successive (8) 14 Shining (7) 16 Relative importance (6) 19 Towering (5) 20 Capital of Latvia (4) 23 Female fallow deer (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17249 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 17249 ACROSS: 1 Monarch, 5 Ruche, 8 Put on airs, 9 Tip, 10 Each, 12 Sheraton, 14 Remote, 15 Devise, 17 Djakarta, 18 Deal, 21 Add, 22 Get wind of, 24 Trout, 25 Slavery. DOWN: 1 Maple, 2 Net, 3 Rant, 4 Height, 5 Reserved, 6 Cut it fine, 7 Expanse, 11 Come and go, 13 Straight, 14 Radiant, 16 Status, 19 Lofty, 20 Riga, 23 Doe. I feel the urgent need to write this as in all my 30 years of living in Cayman and running on the roads, I have NEVER come so close to death or serious injury as I did tonight. What is wrong with drivers on Cayman roads? Bad enough having to drive on the roads with bad drivers, but to deliberately move your vehicles closer to people on the side of the road as you pass by is just damned stupid, dangerous, careless and [shows a] total lack of consideration for others. We have no sidewalks so people have no choice but to walk or run on the side of the road. Some drivers will move away from me to give a little space as they pass (and I always give them a thumbs up) but not this driver. This evening I saw my life flash in front of me and have been badly shaken up by what happened as I ran along South Church Street going towards town. I am always watching the traffic as I run on the roads, as you just never know what could happen. As I was running, a vehicle just missed hitting me by a mere 3-4 inches. I saw the mirror of the vehicle just inches away from my left arm as it passed. No joke. I thought my time had come. I turned around to scream and wave my arms around in pure anger and shock, and saw the vehicle drive along like nothing had happened. This driver was definitely aware of how close she was to me and this appeared to be a deliberate attempt to run me off the road for whatever reason. Maybe she had a bad day? Maybe she was busy texting? Maybe she just has no clue how to use the roads properly? Whatever the reason, the actions of this driver were totally unacceptable. Why can’t we go out for a jog or a cycle without fear of being run off the road or knocked over? What is so bad about giving that little space needed for everyone to be safe and enjoy the roads? If you are that idiot who almost killed me this evening, I have your vehicle number and [car] type. Please, please give pedestrians, runners, cyclists, etc., space on the roads. If you hit one of us, think of the consequences for that individual, and yourself and your family. Total devastation. Please give way. Delia Poole Runner shaken by driver passing too close CIMA asks public for input on banknote design Hopefully, the images and representation of our islands are still included as they are presently. The Cayman Islands produces some of the most beautiful and eye-catching currency, and definitely bears images highlighting our culture. When off island, I proudly show the coins and paper money off any chance I get. There are always compliments on how unique, colorful and beautiful our currencies are. Patricia Bryan Real national heroes, flora and fauna, but please don’t use an image of King Charles III. We are tired of colonialism and its negative effects on Caymanians. Dennie Warren Jr. It’s beautiful as it is! Deborah Hoerz Another 8,000 cars joined Cayman’s traffic jams in 2022 If all these vehicles are being registered, how many are scrapped or de-licenced or lay abandoned in yards, not on the road anymore? Jerry Young Is it possible that a well- run transit system could be a part of the solution? Gord Le’on A tram system? Green and efficient? Paul Allan Like every modern city in the world, investment in light rail or real full-size bus service can potentially reduce traffic by up to 30% for day-time commuters. If you want to be taken seri- ously as a global financial and trade hub, you have to be serious about pub- lic transportation. Simple math… Peter L. So there was already a heavy traffic problem in Grand Cayman. It has been getting steadily worse every year. Since starting our holidays in Grand Cayman in 2009, we have witnessed for ourselves as each year of holiday bliss slowly but surely turned into more of a holiday nightmare navigat- ing the influx of cars. So why would the government even allow 8,000 more cars into their country to add to the problem? Why isn’t there a plan to limit vehicles entering an already jam- packed bumper-to-bumper roadway? And because of these decisions, the only option is to make nature pay by bulldozing through 180 acres of mangroves?... I just don’t get why it would be allowed to add to a problem instead of fixing the problem first. If anything, don’t let any more cars in until there is a solution! It’s just common sense! Politics suck! We are afraid to come back to Grand Cayman between the news of violence by desperate men who have lost so much over the handling of the COVID shutdown years, to the traffic debacle and overly inflated prices to keep the middle class out. It’s all such a shame. Jennifer A. Planning board approves Barkers Beach Resort Insulting to say the least. Different board, same story. Michel Lemay I see the government still destroying the country. Turn a Caribbean island into a city. Donna Parchment Once again the wishes of the Caymanian people have been sidestepped. Marion Webb Another sad day for Cay- man and Caymanians. I feel so let down by my govern- ment. Want to know where the government priorities are? Follow the money... Erik Leacock Is another hotel neces- sary? Soon there will be no land left on this tiny island! Nicola Sibiril Oh, for goodness sake, nothing is sacred any more, nothing for the natives left. Hope protests will be heard. Who are these on the plan- ning board? I wonder... Gillian Rudd Wow. Same old, same old. We lose more and more every day. This is NOT a good thing. Shân Stephenson The West Bay dock is falling apart. It has been for several years but is now much worse. Thousands of scuba divers use this dock every year and at some point someone is going to get seriously hurt. All it would take is some new boards and someone to replace the broken ones. How can we get the government to fix it? Bruce Leibowitz West Bay dock needs to be repaired What they’re saying OnlineLetters to the editor cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 24 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 2023RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Royal couple Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, concluded their short visit to the Cayman Islands on Wednesday, 22 Feb., which included events ranging from the dedication of an underwater coral garden to the symbolic ringing of the cowbell to officially start the annual Agriculture Show. The visit commenced on the afternoon of 20 Feb. where the couple was greeted by Governor Martyn Roper and Premier Wayne Panton and other officials at the Owen Roberts International Airport. Afterwards, they were whisked away for a private welcome reception at Government House at which they engaged with notable members of the Cayman community. Letter from the king The couple were entrusted with a special delivery for their visit as they presented Premier Wayne Panton with a letter from King Charles III to the people of the Cayman Islands. In his short message, the king said he and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, “recall with great fondness” the warmth of their welcome to the Cayman Islands in 2019 and how “inspiring it was to see at first-hand the remarkable development of the Territory over the past few decades”. He continued, “Caymanians are rightly proud of their culture and heritage, their modem and dynamic community, together with their determination to protect their environment and grow their economy sustainably. “The Cayman Islands, like all of our Overseas Territories, are much- loved and integral members of the British Family and I look forward to strengthening yet further our relationship in the years ahead,” he said in his written message. The reception was the first of two joint public appearances for the couple, after which they both engaged in separate events involving local organisations of which they are patrons. Their schedules again aligned for a final event, where they presented Duke of Edinburgh awards to young people at Government House before leaving to continue their Caribbean tour in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Prince champions Cayman’s reefs Prince Edward, youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has been a longstanding patron of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute and visited Little Cayman on this trip, where he launched CCMI’s Coral Fund, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of his patronage. In addition, a small part of the Bloody Bay Wall was dedicated in his honour. The prince expressed impassioned support for the ‘natural world’ and, in particular, the groundbreaking research being done on Little Cayman into coral reef sustainability. “Protection of the natural world is crucial to our long-term sustainability,” he said in remarks at an event at CCMI. The Coral Fund, a new fundraising effort, seeks almost US$3 million for new classroom and accommodation space on land close to the current headquarters. The ocean-side site will then be redeployed entirely as lab and office space. The day after his Little Cayman trip, the prince visited the Cayman Islands Coast Guard base where he saw firsthand Cayman’s hurricane readiness as he met with Cayman Islands Regiment and Coast Guard officials and viewed the equipment utilised by the services. He watched the regiment’s demonstration of its post-disaster capabilities, which included a ‘camp kitchen’ manned by two recruits, who work in their day jobs as chefs at two of Cayman’s top hotels. Empowerment to excitement Countess Sophie began her packed agenda on 21 Feb. with an ‘intimate conversation’ about empowerment in the workplace and beyond with Cayman’s 100 Women in Finance (100WF) members and special guests at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. The Countess of Wessex is the global ambassador of local charity 100 Women in Finance. At the event, according to the 100WF, the countess shared insights gained from her global work that focuses on championing gender balance and diversity. Afterwards, she headed to the YMCA camp at the Field of Dreams where, much to the surprise and delight of many, the countess took part in a lively game of dodgeball with children. Sophie also tried her hand at archery, eliciting some tips from the children at the camp. As she drew her arrow in the bow, she listened intently to the guidance provided by the YMCA instructor. But, when her arrow didn’t hit the target, she shrugged good-naturedly, saying, “Oh, well.” Garth Arch, chairman of the YMCA board, welcomed the countess’s visit to the camp. “It’s a very special moment for the YMCA to have a Royal Highness visit the Y camp. It was amazing to see her interacting with the children. She even played dodgeball with them. It was an exciting time for us, and it’s one that we’ll always remember,” he said. The countess also took part in ice cream making and looked quite pleased with herself as she sampled her vanilla-flavoured handiwork. Later that evening, she attended the 100 Women in Finance inaugural Cayman First Impressions Dinner, which included 100WF GirlForce100 mentees, students and their mentors, rising stars and leaders in financial services, alongside other special guests. The dinner, a statement said, was “designed to reach, inspire, and support pre- and early-career young women who are the finance industry’s leadership pipeline”. Opening the Ag Show The next day, the countess formally opened the 54th annual Agriculture Show in Lower Valley, ringing the symbolic cowbell to herald the start of the highly anticipated event. After opening the show, which returned after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, she toured the livestock areas and display booths. Agricultural Society president George Smith led the tour, on which Premier Panton, Agriculture Minister Jay Ebanks and Lissie Roper, the governor’s wife, accompanied the countess. During her tour, she was shown photos of some of her husband's earlier visits to the Cayman Islands. This trip was Prince Edward’s sixth visit here. Just before she left, the premier presented her with traditional silver thatch items made by local craftspeople. Showing Cayman In a statement issued 23 Feb. a day after the Earl and Countess of Wessex departed, the governor spoke to the importance of the Royal couple spending time in Cayman. “The visit enabled us to showcase to Their Royal Highnesses just how much our Islands have to offer from our highly talented and diverse community, including our youth, the extraordinary biodiversity and beauty of our Islands, our agriculture and farming, our world-beating tourism product, our enhanced disaster response resilience and law enforcement capability,” he said. See pages 10-11 for more photos. From corals to cowbells: Earl and Countess of Wessex wrap up whirlwind Cayman trip The Royal couple, with Premier Wayne Panton, left, and Governor Martyn Roper at Government House, the governor's residence, shortly after their arrival in Cayman on 20 Feb. - Photo: David Goddard Prince Edward chats with members of the Cayman Islands Regiment during his visit. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass 5 news N news WEEKLY, 24 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 2023A COMPASS MEDIA SALUTE PUBLISHED FRIDAY, 17 MARCH Celebrate the Service of His Excellency, the Governor Martyn Roper sales@compassmedia.ky Cayman Compass invites your business to thank His Excellency and wish him the best of luck on his next posting through messages featured in this very special issue. Distributed in the Cayman Compass & online at caymancompass.com JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky When retired police officer Manny Brown was killed in a boat collision on the North Sound in 2019, it sent shockwaves through the community. The incident, which also claimed the life of 70-year-old John Turner and left a third victim in a coma, was among the deadliest accidents in the islands’ waters in living memory. It also spotlighted a growing safety hazard in Cayman – reckless and unregulated boating. The driver of the other vessel, Sean McDonald, sped through a no-wake zone, hitting speeds of up to 50 miles per hour before the collision occurred in August 2019. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in January this year after being convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of Brown and Turner. During his trial, it was determined that, as well as speeding, he had not kept a proper lookout and had defective lights on his 32-foot powerboat Pepper Jelly. Yet, until the moment his boat collided with Brown’s vessel, it would have been difficult for law enforcement to bring any meaningful sanction against McDonald. “What happened to Manny is tragic, but we are seeing that type of behaviour from boaters every weekend at Cayman Kai and on Seven Mile Beach,” said Coast Guard Commander Robert Scotland. Though strict rules govern the conduct of motorists on the roads, Cayman’s waterways are a relatively lawless zone. While being intoxicated in charge of a vessel is an offence, current legislation does not contemplate proactive policing on that front. It is something that officers typically only address after an accident has occurred. With the exception of coastal no-wake zones, speed and driving standards are not regulated. There is no licensing requirement to get behind the wheel of a boat and no skill or experience is necessary, so long as you are over 15 years old. Applying rules of the road to the sea Now the Coast Guard is working with the Port Authority on a proposal to tighten up outdated regulations and make them fit for purpose in modern Cayman. That includes plans for new ‘boating under the influence’ regulations that would potentially allow Coast Guard officers to breathlyse boaters and prevent them from helming vessels while intoxicated. “Our intent is to look at all of the regulations under the traffic law, and where they’re practical and applicable for the maritime domain, we’re pretty much looking to replicate it. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel,” said Scotland. “You have careless driving, reckless driving, so you can have careless boating, reckless boating,” he added. The Department of Environment is also supportive of changes to legislation to better regulate vessels in the wildlife interaction zone, which are often overloaded with passengers. Scott Slaybaugh, deputy director of the DoE, said registration of watercraft would also make it easier for enforcement officers to follow up on complaints. The Coast Guard also supports licensing for boaters – similar to the driver’s test – a development which could also be used to ensure anyone at the wheel of a vessel is informed about no-fishing zones and other marine park legislation. A growing problem Leo Anglin, lieutenant commander of the Coast Guard, said the growth of power boat and jet-ski ownership in Cayman over the past decade in particular had made the islands’ waters a more hazardous environment. The pandemic pension holiday also contributed to a rise in watercraft ownership, says Scotland. Inexperienced and untrained boaters, liquor, music and a party atmosphere, with hundreds of people in the water at weekends, is a dangerous mix, he argues. There have been discussions for over a decade about the need for tighter regulations. But the conversation has accelerated through the observations of the Coast Guard and following the tragic death of Brown, a respected former law enforcement official. While broader changes – such as the introduction of boat pilot licensing – would require legislation, some of the immediate fixes could be relatively simple. Port Authority regulations currently set out requirements to carry life jackets, flares and other basic safety equipment. The Coast Guard and Port Authority plan to bring recommendations to Cabinet to tweak those regulations to cover boating under the influence, and additional no-wake zones around anchored vessels and anywhere that swimmers are in the water. Handling those two issues – liquor and careless boating around other water users – would be a big step forward, Scotland believes. “If you’re behind the wheel of a vessel and you’re coming into Cayman Kai, where there are 40 or 50 people in the water and you’re not paying attention – factor in a little bit of liquor, a little bit of music, a little bit of distraction – the likelihood of you hitting somebody and causing serious damage with the hull of your vessel is extremely high,” he said. Clinton Jackson, senior harbour patrol officer with the Port Authority, confirmed it supports changes to the regulations to better manage offences like boating under the influence. He confirmed the authority also supports a broader legislative move to have a licensing system for boaters, similar to a driver’s licence. Scotland said this could be a relatively simple requirement to take an established qualification, such as the Royal Yachting Association’s certification. Ultimately, he believes boaters should demonstrate some competence and knowledge of the ‘rules of the road’ before being authorised to helm a vessel. He said this would also allow for a more manageable system of sanctions for boaters, with the ultimate threat of losing a licence acting as a deterrent to reckless behaviour. More stringent testing could be considered for commercial operators, he said. The Department of Environment also supports licensing for those operators. Slaybaugh, who helped create a draft ‘local vessels law’ around a decade ago, said, “A change that would assist our work – especially with enforcement and marine pollution – is vessel registration. “Currently, there is no way to identify or contact the owner of a vessel if it is sinking on a mooring or discharging fuel from the bilge, or observed from a distance fishing in a marine reserve.” He said it is currently impossible to prove who owns a vessel, meaning courts often refuse to order forfeiture of boats involved in poaching incidents. Equally, derelict vessels that have been abandoned are difficult to link to an owner, and can become an environmental hazard. Lawless seas? Coast Guard pushes for law to curb reckless boaters Coast Guard Commander Robert Scotland wants to see new rules to ensure boating safety. Overloaded boats have been a concern at the Stingray City Sandbar for over a decade. This picture from 2016 is an extreme example. - Photo: File Capsized and abandoned boats can become a marine safety hazard. - Photo: File cayman compass 6 news N news WEEKLY, 24 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 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 Zachary Jones, articled clerk, 2019 legal scholarship recipient @WalkersGlobal@WalkersLawFirm cayman compass 7 WEEKLY, 24 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 2023JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Tributes have flooded in for entrepreneur and developer Gene Thompson, the man who helped bring Health City to the Cayman Islands. Thompson died Tuesday afternoon after a long battle with cancer. He was 59. Friends and family remembered him as a devout Christian and a generous man who combined an infectious positivity with a steely resolve that helped him become one of Cayman’s most respected businessmen. He was also a much-loved husband to Melisa and father to two daughters, Katie and Holly. Through his Thompson Development business, he was involved in commercial and retail development, real estate and resorts. Though he had varied business interests, including Dolphin Discovery, Total Healthcare and the Divers, Office and Sports Supply stores, Thompson is remembered as a ‘visionary’ who was always looking to forge new territory for the Cayman Islands. He was a driving force behind legislative changes that helped bring health tourism to the Cayman Islands. More recently, he spearheaded the Tech Cayman project with the aim of carving out a new niche for the islands in the technology sector. His greatest public legacy is undoubtedly Health City Cayman Islands, which opened in East End in 2014. He also had a passion for education and opportunity, providing thousands of educational scholarships for young people at the East End hospital. “Most people know that healthcare services in the Cayman Islands have been revolutionised recently and a lot of that is because of Health City,” said his brother Kel Thompson. Gene Thompson was a founding member of Cayman Islands Real Estate Brokers Association, a director of Cayman Islands Investment Council, and a founding member of Have A Heart Cayman Islands, a charity which brought children from all over the world to the islands for life-saving cardiac operations. Outside of his public persona, Thompson was known for his quiet generosity. His family would find out, years after the fact, that he had helped fund someone’s education or paid their medical bills without ever seeking thanks or recognition. He was deeply involved with the Seventh Day Adventist Church and was instrumental in establishing its George Town headquarters. “Gene was certainly not a doctor or a preacher, but he was the one who put everything in place to allow those things to happen,” added Kel Thompson, who said he had lost a “dear brother”. “He was a generous fella,” he said. “He was a bad little boy when he was a youngster so how he came out so good, I will never know.” Outside of work, church and family, Thompson loved the ocean. He was a keen fisherman and an excellent water-skier in his younger days, said Kel. Though he had been seriously ill for the past several years, Thompson never wavered in either his faith or his positivity. “He had a lot he could have complained about but he never did,” Kel said. “One thing I can say about him is he never learned how to quit. He didn’t know how to do it. He fought his disease with the same mindset.” ‘No was not an option’ Thompson’s long-term business partner Harry Chandi uses a similar expression to describe his approach to the many challenges and doubts the pair faced as they sought to bring Dr. Devi Shetty’s hospital to the island. “The word no was not in his vocabulary. No was not an option for Gene Thompson,” said Chandi. That belief and ability to navigate administrative road blocks and to find solutions for problems others saw as insurmountable was the “magic” he brought to every project, said Chandi. “A lot of people told us the hospital was a pipe dream, that it could not be done,” he said. “We did it under budget in less than a year and that would never have happened without Gene. “I brought the global relationships and he brought the relationships from Cayman. It was the perfect fit.” Chandi argues that many lives have been saved because of Thompson’s commitment to get the project over the line, not least during COVID-19 when the hospital played a pivotal role in fighting the pandemic and ensuring continuity of care as the borders closed. “Health City has touched every Cayman family,” said Chandi, who believes his friend and partner will be remembered as a national hero. “There are people that wouldn’t be alive today if it was not for that hospital. Cayman should erect a hundred statues to Gene Thompson,” he said. On a personal level, Chandi said he felt like he had “lost a brother”. “We have been partners for 23 years and we never had a disagreement.” ‘A true Caymanian’ Businessman Gary Rutty, a friend and a second cousin to Thompson, said the island had lost a “true Caymanian”. He said, “Gene was the most optimistic, faith-based person you could possibly know. He never took on a task that he couldn’t accomplish, and he took on some of the biggest challenges that anyone in Cayman has ever attempted.” “The top notch healthcare system we have in Cayman right now is thanks to him,” Rutty said. “It has helped so many people through COVID and everything else.” Rutty, who grew up in the same George Town neighbourhood as Thompson, alongside a group of friends and cousins that includes Randy Merren and Dale Crighton, said Gene had been like an older brother and a mentor to many of them. Merren and former Calico Jack’s owner Handel Whittaker also paid their respects yesterday, describing Thompson as an inspirational figure. Whittaker said he had helped him in all his business ventures, even to the point of washing dishes in Calico Jack’s as he struggled to get that venture off the ground. What shone through most was his positivity. Rutty added, “I asked him recently ‘Do you ever ask, God, why me? And he said, ‘Never, I ask why not me? I have the means and the resources to fight it unlike so many people.’” His niece, Candice Thompson, said that his positivity and faith were unshakable throughout her uncle’s long illness. “He never let any part of it get him down and he never ever gave up. Even though the diagnosis was not very hopeful, he fought it so hard, for so long.” Though he was community minded and a people person, she said, he was also family focused. “Melisa and his girls and his wider family were very important to him and he showed it every day. For his family, the loss is indescribable,” she said. Faith and second chances David Legge, a former publisher of the Cayman Compass and a friend and colleague of Thompson for many years, remembered his devotion to his family, especially his mother. He said he was a devout man and big believer in second chances, something he demonstrated by hiring a number of former prisoners on the construction project to build Health City. “He was determined that there should be as many Caymanians as possible on site and he was willing to hire people who had been to Northward Prison that many others would not have taken a chance on.” Legge believes Thompson, along with former Premier McKeeva Bush and Harry Chandi, will be remembered as the architects of Health City and the people who helped revolutionise healthcare on the islands. “It was not an easy sell in the early days but Gene was indefatigable in surmounting all those hurdles,” said Legge. The next chapter Thompson was also involved in another project to bring a new hospital, Cayman Aster Medcity, to West Bay, though the status of that development was unclear at the time of his death. His primary passion over the last few years was the Tech Cayman project. He campaigned successfully to bring in new intellectual property legislation to create the possibility for tech companies to come to the island. Jennifer McCarthy, operations and business development manager at Tech Cayman, said there were currently around 15 international companies operating under the umbrella of the service provider. She said Thompson was someone who saw opportunities where others saw challenges, and worked relentlessly to turn his ideas into reality. She said he was civic minded and driven by a desire both to diversify Cayman’s economy and create opportunities for future generations. “His family had been very blessed and he felt it was his duty and his honour to make sure future generations had the same kind of opportunities.” McCarthy said Tech Cayman seeks to hire firms that will create opportunities for local people. It also includes an educational programme. “With tech, he felt there would be no boundaries and no barriers to success for children on a small island,” she said. “This was not a short-time plan for Gene. He would talk in 25-year segments.” Without its founder, she said, Tech Cayman would continue to forge ahead, in the same mould. “We certainly plan to honour his legacy and grow this sector as much as we can and create as many opportunities as we can,” she said. Health City developer Gene Thompson passes Gene Thompson, 27 Dec. 1963 – 21 Feb. 2023 cayman compass 8 news N news WEEKLY, 24 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 2023✔ A US$200 or local equivalent credit in your savings or chequing account every month for one year ✔ A homeowner benefits card ✔ Up to 95% financing* ✔ Up to 30 years to repay* ✔ CIBC FirstCaribbean Home Insurance Plan and 0% interest to pay your home insurance in up to 11 months ✔ A pre-approved Visa Gold or Visa Platinum Credit Card with 5,000 bonus reward points Visit www.cibcfcib.com/homeownerspayday for more information. Homeowner's Pay Day Get cash back every month for 1 year! Future homeowners, enjoy another pay day! Build or buy a home with a mortgage from CIBC FirstCaribbean and relax with these great benefits*: *CIBC FirstCaribbean terms and conditions apply. Offer starts 9 January, 2023, and ends 31 March, 2023. CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank is not an insurer. †The CIBC FirstCaribbean Insurance Program (“Program”) is distributed by the CIBC FirstCaribbean Insurance Agent. The Program is underwritten and administered by CG United or its subsidiaries, the insurer. CIBC FirstCaribbean Insurance† Protection Plans are completely optional. Clients are free to not participate in the Plan, by choosing an alternative insurer. The CIBC logo is a trademark of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, used by FirstCaribbean International Bank under license. RETAIL226039 RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Minimum Wage Advisory Committee has said it expects to have its report ready by the end of June, barring any delays in its deliberations. The committee, which is led by chairman Lemuel Hurlston, held its first meeting 25 Jan., according to a Ministry of Border Control and Labour statement issued Monday, 20 Feb. “Discussions began to look into the adequacy of the current minimum wage in the Cayman Islands. If there are no delays, a final report should be ready by 30 June 2023,” it said. Last year, Deputy Premier Chris Saunders, who is also the labour minister, commissioned the review, saying that the existing minimum pay of $6-an-hour was “absolutely way too low”. Hurlston said he was honoured to lead the committee and review the minimum wage as it is a topical issue which “affects us all”. “As we meet weekly over the coming months by looking at current and future factors that it may affect, and through advice from independent consultants, we hope to be able to advise the Cayman Islands on a way forward in determining a new minimum,” he said. Review overdue The current minimum wage went into effect on 1 March 2016 under former Premier Alden McLaughlin’s administration. The $6 hourly rate was established as the minimum wage for most Cayman Islands employees. Service employees who receive gratuities earn a minimum hourly rate of $4.50 and special calculations apply for live-in household domestic workers, as well as for people earning commission. In 2019, McLaughlin announced a review would be undertaken with a view to moving the needle upward Minimum wage report expected by end of June Deputy Premier and Labour Minister Chris Saunders for local workers. Saunders, when he took office in April 2021, listed the review as a priority item for his portfolio. The review committee comprises a cross-section of representatives from various local associations covering employees and employers alike, as well as representatives from civil society, with support from the labour ministry, the Economics & Statistics Office and the Department of Labour and Pensions. “The committee, which meets weekly, will investigate the impact of a new minimum wage at various wage points as well as whether the country should establish various minimum wages for specific industries, sectors or age groups,” the statement said. The ministry added that the committee will be responsible for preparing a report to Cabinet on its findings, as well as a final recommendation for price points of the National Minimum Basic Wage(s) for the Cayman Islands. It added that the public will be advised of opportunities for engagement as the committee meetings progress. “Discussions began to look into the adequacy of the current minimum wage in the Cayman Islands. If there are no delays, a final report should be ready by 30 June 2023.” cayman compass 9 news N news WEEKLY, 24 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH 2023Next >