cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 3-9 March 2023 Long- awaited sexual harassment bill unveiled Page 6 Cayman's 'severe' climate change risks Pages 8-9 Food for thought Pilot programme aims to give primary students a healthy start Pages 22-24 Photo: Taneos RamsayMatinees (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 MISSING (PG-13) (FRI) 4:30 VIP | 7:05 | 7:20 VIP | 9:45 | 10:00 VIP (SAT) 1:50 VIP | 4:30 VIP | 7:05 | 7:20 VIP | 9:45 | 10:00 VIP (SUN) 4:30 VIP | 7:05 | 7:20 VIP | 9:45 | 10:00 VIP (MON) 4:30 VIP | 7:05 | 7:20 VIP | 9:45 | 10:00 VIP (TUES) 4:20 VIP | 7:05 | 9:45 (WED & THURS) 4:30 VIP | 7:05 | 7:20 VIP | 9:45 | 10:00 VIP PATHAAN (PG) (FRI) 3:50 | 6:45 (SAT) 12:30 | 3:50 | 6:45 (SUN) 3:50 | 6:45 (MON-THURS) 3:50 | 6:45 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA (PG-13) (FRI) 3:30 VIP | 4:00 | 6:30 VIP | 7:00 | 9:25 VIP | 10:00 (SAT) 12:30 VIP | 1:00 | 3:30 VIP | 4:00 VIP | 6:30 VIP | 7:00 | 9:25 VIP VIP | 10:00 (SUN) 3:30 VIP | 4:00 | 6:30 VIP | 7:00 | 9:25 VIP | 10:00 (MON-THURS) 3:30 VIP | 4:00 | 6:30 VIP | 7:00 | 9:25 VIP | 10:00 CREED III (PG) (FRI) 4:00 VIP | 4:45 | 7:00 VIP | 7:30 | 9:45 VIP | 10:15 (SAT) 1:15 VIP | 2:00 | 4:00 VIP | 4:45 | 7:00 VIP | 7:30 | 9:45 VIP | 10:15 (SUN) 4:00 VIP | 4:45 | 7:00 VIP | 7:30 | 9:45 VIP | 10:15 (MON & TUES) 4:00 VIP | 4:45 | 7:00 VIP | 7:30 | 9:45 VIP | 10:15 (WED) 4:00 VIP | 7:00 VIP | 7:30 | 9:45 VIP | 10:15 (THURS) 4:00 VIP | 4:45 | 7:00 VIP | 7:30 | 9:45 VIP | 10:15 MAYBE I DO (PG-13) (FRI) 10:10 (SAT) 10:10 (MON-THURS 10:10) KIDS CLUB SHREK SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) KIDS CLUB SING SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) CLASSICS THURSDAY 7PM VIP (PG-13) THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. 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 New shelter approved for Humane Society Cayman’s stray cats and dogs may fi nally have their day, after planning permission was granted for the construction of a new $5.3 million shelter in West Bay for the Humane Society. For years, the existing site has struggled with a litany of problems linked to insuffi cient capacity and exacerbated by issues with fl ooding. The Central Planning Authority granted approval – subject to certain stipulations – for the new shelter, a caretaker’s unit, generator and two signs, according to minutes posted online on 2 March. For more on this story, visit caymancompass.com. Alcohol, e-cigarettes and ganja top drug choices among Cayman’s youth Cayman’s survey on student drug use for 2022 revealed that the top three drugs of choice among students continue to be alcohol, e-cigarettes, and marijuana, as found in previous surveys. Alcohol is still the number one drug of choice among Cayman’s teens, it said, with 41% of the students surveyed indicating the use of alcohol at least once. “This fi nding is in line with both regional and global data where alcohol is also the primary drug of choice among teens,” according to a statement on the fi ndings from the National Drug Council. Cayman’s Chief Medical Offi cer Dr. Nick Gent also noted the statistic that 29% of young people and pre-teens had tried an e-cigarette/vape at least once. This represented a slight increase in use among students. When interpreting this statistic, Gent said, he felt it necessary to point out that it is not uncommon for young people to experiment, or that “children, as they grow into adulthood, will take on what they believe to be proper adult behaviours”. However, he added, “This is an important lesson for parents – we must be good examples to our children – please, if you have young children and currently smoke tobacco, think about giving that habit up, to infl uence their future behaviour and development.” When it comes to marijuana, 14% of students reported having tried the drug at least once, which constitutes a slight decrease from the last results. The survey, which is carried out every two years, aims to identify and analyse the local trends in drug use and other risk behaviours among students enrolled in years 7 through 13. A total of 3,608 students, among both public and private schools across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, participated in the 2022 survey. Offi cer denies charge in death of service dog case Police offi cer Timothy Alexander Munroe has denied allegations that he mistreated police dog Baron which died while in police care in July 2022. Appearing before the Summary Court on Tuesday, 24 Feb., Munroe entered a not guilty plea to the single charge of cruelty to an animal. The details of the charge don’t allege that Munroe’s actions resulted in the death of K9 Baron. Instead, the charge alleges that on 9 July 2022, he failed to feed, water and shelter the animal, “thereby causing K9 Baron unnecessary suffering”. Munroe, who graduated at the top of his recruitment class, has been an offi cer with the RCIPS since March 2021. When news of the animal’s death became public, it was met with anger and prompted an investigation by the Ombudsman’s Offi ce and the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Unit. Munroe was released on bail and is due to return to court on 16 March for a case management hearing, at which time a trial date is expected to be set. Voter-registration drive ahead of referendum The Elections Offi ce has launched a voter-registration drive in anticipation of government’s planned vote on a national lottery, and legalising small quantities of cannabis. This will occur even though government has yet to take a referendum bill to Parliament with its proposed date for the vote and question for debate. Acting Attorney General Reshma Sharma announced in her address at the Grand Court opening in January that the legal framework to pave the way for Cayman’s vote was expected to head to Parliament in the fi rst quarter of this year. A statement from the Elections Offi ce acknowledged that, while the motion approving the referendum passed on 7 Dec. 2022, an offi cial date is still to be determined and “it is conducting a voter registration drive to give qualifi ed electors the opportunity to participate in the anticipated Referendum on Gambling and Small Quantities of Cannabis”. Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell said the aim was “to make registration as effortless as possible for those wishing to vote while maintaining the highest accuracy and confi dence in the process”. He added, “We ask persons looking to register at supermarket locations to bring copies of all the required identifi cation documents with them when registering. The Elections Offi ce staff is also ready to assist individuals registering to vote at our convenient locations.” The Register of Electors, as of 1 Jan., contains 23,496 registered voters. COVID testing clinics to close, reporting requirement dropped As of 1 March, Cayman’s Public Health Department is no longer requiring confi rmation PCR testing for COVID-19 cases, marking its strongest push yet to return to ‘normal’ and move away from the pandemic. The department has also dropped the requirement for reporting positive COVID lateral fl ow test results, and local COVID testing centres have ceased operations on all three islands. However, Public Health said in a statement over the weekend that it recommends positive COVID cases and their primary contacts continue to follow the existing advice on isolation and testing. “Relatively small numbers of people are now seeking voluntary confi rmation PCR tests when LFT COVID positive, and this service is no longer providing useful epidemiology information. I encourage persons in the community to still test themselves with [an] LFT device if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and adhere to our recommended isolation requirements,” said Chief Medical Offi cer Dr. Nick Gent. Planning approval granted to the Humane Society means Cayman’s stray dogs and cats may be off to a new home in West Bay. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay news in brief cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 3 9 MARCH 2023If you suffer from joint pain, sports injury, osteoarthritis, or orthopaedic trauma, relief is close to home. Book your appointment today. (345) 945-8380 It’s time to move without pain Our treatments include • Spine • Sports medicine • Total joint replacement • Hip, knee, shoulder, foot and ankle • Hand and upper extremities • Pain management • Trauma Cayman Orthopaedic Group has been a pioneer of cutting-edge orthopaedics in Cayman for nearly 30 years. Our board-certified surgeons from around the world provide comprehensive, patient-centred care and the latest innovative procedures and sub-speciality treatments. As the only specialist orthopaedic clinic in the Cayman Islands, we are committed to ensuring our patients get world-class care. COG Evergreen Ad-09.indd 1COG Evergreen Ad-09.indd 12022-10-05 4:14 PM2022-10-05 4:14 PM cayman compass 3 WEEKLY, 3 9 MARCH 2023positions, persons with significant medical bills, etc. Denise Bodden That’s awesome. Wish we were still there so we could see him. Depending on the price of the tickets. He’s an amazing person. Paulette Kennedy As always, only the rich can enjoy anything on this island. Anyhoo... so it goes. Patsy Rowan The concert is a fundraiser to help develop TPET, a new scanning technology for detecting cancer. So while I understand the feeling that the tickets are out of reach for many, due to the small number that the venue holds, and let’s get real, Bocelli isn’t doing this for free, the tickets have to be expensive to raise funds after expenses are covered. Samantha Norrell Peterson Wow, only $2,500 per ticket... fundraiser better be to save the Cayman Islands. Michael Hayes-Foster Health City developer and entrepreneur Gene Thompson dies Sincere condolences to the Thompson family. Mr. Thompson was a great man whom I had the pleasure of interacting with a few times. He will be surely missed. Mario Watson My sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Gene Thompson. God bless you for all you did for the sake of your people. Rest In Peace. Lerena DaCosta Big loss to Cayman Islands, one of most generous and humble persons I met in my life. Condolences to his family. May he rest in peace. Kush Sharma A big loss to the Cayman Islands community, a kind genuine person. Michele Aubert So sorry to read this sad news. This is truly a loss to the Cayman community. Sincerest condolences to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Bridgette Lazzari-von Gerhardt Great loss. Far too soon. Gene really was one of the greats. Feisty and full of vigor. I will miss seeing him. Frank S. Such deserving [accolades] for a truly incredible man. His generosity and kindness knew no bounds. He loved his wife and his family with his whole being. I don’t think I will find anyone as kind as Gene was. Willing to help at the drop of a hat. Cayman has lost one of its best sons. When we remember Gene, it will be with great joy as he was always joking around. RIP Gene. You fought the good fight, now it’s time to get your reward. Allen and Reneé Bernardo What a true gentleman and brilliant and kind businessman. Heidi K. Gene was a towering figure who lived in service with humility. Gene was always grateful for God’s grace and blessings. He shared so freely with undeterred determination to help others and to strengthen his beloved Cayman. He will be remembered as a blessing and an inspiration to all who knew him. With great love and appreciation. John, Barb and Ginna So sad to hear this news of such a wonderful individual who touched so many lives. Evelyn C. First cases of blocked beach access come to court Unless, and until, the Crown is able to get these cases on the court’s agenda, complete a hearing, and successfully conclude a prosecution, then the non- compliance will not be taken as serious! Justice must not only be done, but seen to be done. Mario E. Confusion reigns over rights to Cayman’s beaches I do not see what the problem is. I walk the beach 4 miles almost every day. The condos and hotels have chairs out near their buildings and the open beach near the water often has locals sitting on it. Bruce L. Once a highway always a highway; once a beach always a beach. There should not be any roped areas on the beach. Every beach access should have a public shower. Sikander K. Parking at the Agriculture Show I really think [there should be] more signs, flags, cones, canopy waiting area, etc., to draw attention to the lots. I really wanted to use the park and ride option. Oh well! We passed by the first three park and ride locations and absolutely no one there and barely any cars. No buses and no signs. Great idea, but if not executed, not gonna be useful. Cherisse Carlisle Sad to say the same people who complain about the traffic are the ones who refuse to use the park and ride. I was shocked to find at 2pm a line of traffic as I was heading to Bodden Town yet the park and ride areas were empty. I hope there’s an opportunity for feedback as to how the situation could possibly be addressed but again if people don’t cooperate then... Georgia Harding Tenor Andrea Bocelli ‘thrilled’ to sing in Cayman for first time Having fallen in love with Andrea’s voice in my late twenties after hearing ‘Con Te Partiro’, I would love to have heard him live in my home country. But, I’m not one of the fortunate who can afford $2,500 or $1,500 for a ticket. Someone of his caliber should have been brought in to sing for a wider audience. I say this after having been an employee and a volunteer in heritage preservation for over a decade with local non-profit organisations and understand very well the need for fundraisers. I think it is a shame that art is unavailable to those who may truly appreciate it but simply can’t afford it... retirees, academics, budding artists, students, employees in non-managerial 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Rough preliminary outline (5) 4 Having up-to-date knowledge (2,5) 8 An evergreen conifer (3) 9 Not to be prevented by (2,5,2) 10 North African capital city (7) 11 Solidarity (5) 13 Unlawful constraint (6) 15 Of lower status (6) 18 Easy, undemanding (5) 19 Peaceable (7) 21 Not more than (2,3,4) 23 Feel regret for (3) 24 Stand surety for (7) 25 Precipitate (5) DOWN 1 To cheat (7) 2 Concerning (2,7) 3 Ethnic group (5) 4 Demand assertively (6) 5 Expression of high regard (7) 6 Avail oneself of (3) 7 Big and strong (5) 12 To the extent that (7,2) 14 Guile (7) 16 Likely to collapse (7) 17 Tumult (6) 18 Grossly stupid (5) 20 A concealed complication (5) 22 Unduly (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17255 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 17255 ACROSS: 1 Draft, 4 In touch, 8 Fir, 9 In spite of, 10 Algiers, 11 Unity, 13 Duress, 15 Lesser, 18 Cushy, 19 Pacific, 21 At the most, 23 Rue, 24 Sponsor, 25 Hasty. DOWN: 1 Defraud, 2 As regards, 3 Tribe, 4 Insist, 5 Tribute, 6 Use, 7 Hefty, 12 Insofar as, 14 Slyness, 16 Rickety, 17 Uproar, 18 Crass, 20 Catch, 22 Too. More than 9,000 people attended the Agriculture Show this year, prompting readers to call for better use of park-and-ride facilities. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay The Public Transportation Unit governs public transport in the Cayman Islands. It is an excellent and reliable public transport system easily accessible to visitors and residents in Grand Cayman. The impact of going ahead with the 2005 gazetted East-West Arterial Highway plans to develop areas in the interior of Grand Cayman doesn’t take into consideration the problem of existing road bottlenecks into and out of George Town and the lack of a reliable mass transit system. Caymanians prefer to use their cars for the long daily commutes from distant districts into George Town. They’re reluctant to use public transport to and from work in the capital. Is there any viable alternative to a good mass transit system in Grand Cayman? Nan Socolow Call for a mass transit system What they’re saying Online Letter to the editor cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 3-9 MARCH 2023WEEKLY, 3-9 MARCH 2023www.logic.ky +1 345 745 5555 THE POWER OF EQUITY Today we will celebrate women’s achievements. Today is the day we can all #EmbraceEquity. Because when we embrace equity, we can bring about positive change for women everywhere. cayman compass 5 WEEKLY, 3-9 MARCH 2023NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky More than a decade-and-a-half after Cayman’s Business and Professional Women’s Club began campaigning for sexual harassment legislation, a bill has finally been written. Premier Wayne Panton delivered the draft legislative document to members of the non-profit organisation at a luncheon on Wednesday, and announced the beginning of a six- week public consultation on the proposed legislation. “This landmark piece of draft legislation has been a long time in the making,” he said. “I don’t know why it’s taken this long but it’s not going to take much longer,” he told the BPW members, whom he congratulated for their persistence in pursuing the issue over the years. “When sexual harassment becomes socially acceptable, when a precedent is set that it is OK to violate another human being, their dignity and their rights, or when the belief that being silent is better than speaking the truth becomes widespread, then that is the time that we know urgent legislative action is needed,” the premier said. Long road to new law The path to this legislation has been a long one, beginning back in 2006, when the BPW set up a Sexual Harassment and Stalking Task Force, led by the Young Business and Professional Women’s Club and its then president Joannah Bodden-Small. The task force carried out a survey, the findings of which, published in 2008, showed that two in five people had experienced sexual harassment. The results of the survey and the task force’s work were submitted to government, with a recommendation that legislation be drafted. The taskforce disbanded in 2009. BPW founding member Annie Multon, speaking at Wednesday’s luncheon, said, “We are grateful to everyone who participated in the Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Stalking... The task force was a very special imitative for BPW, as it was spearheaded by Young BPW, under 35 years of age.” She added, “Without them, we would not be here today.” Following the work done by the task force, in 2012, the Law Reform Commission published a draft law on sexual harassment for public consultation. The following year, the commission forwarded its final report on supporting the Sexual Harassment Bill to the attorney general, who in turn forwarded it to the Ministry of Community Affairs. Although no legislation was forthcoming at the time, in 2016, government released its own policy for the civil service, which set out how complaints of workplace harassment could be made and handled. Many of the suggestions and recommendations put forward to government by the BPW and the Law Reform Commission are included in the current proposed bill. Compass Media, through the Cayman Compass and the Rooster Crosstalk show, in 2021 ran a series of stories on the prevalence of sexual harassment in Cayman. Appearing on Crosstalk in July that year, Panton vowed to bring legislation dealing with sexual harassment to Parliament within the next year. At the time, he said, “Let’s be honest. When you have policymakers dominated by males you may find that kind of thing is down the priority list. ... I want to make it clear to the country and to the women of this country that, for our government, it is not lower down the list. It is something we are concerned about.” Draft legislation to get public feedback Speaking at Wednesday’s luncheon, Panton said the proposed legislation would create a mechanism whereby victims could report harassment to the relevant authorities, without fear of retaliation. He noted that Jamaica had passed its own sexual harassment legislation in 2021. “There is no justification for Cayman not implementing similar legislation with appropriate penalties surrounding sexual harassment offences, greater definitions of what constitutes these human rights violations, rules in place to protect victims and to thoroughly investigate perpetrators,” he said. Under the draft legislation, penalties can be imposed for individuals found guilty of sexual harassment, including fines of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment for one year. The bill states that complaints of sexual harassment can be made by the victim, or on behalf of the victim – with his or her permission – to the Gender Equality Tribunal, which will have the power to impose penalties and remedies. Panton pointed out that the proposed legislation also addresses false reports of sexual harassment and the making of vexatious or frivolous complaints. Defining sexual harassment The draft law defines sexual harassment as making unwelcome sexual advances, comments or gestures to a person; sending a person unwanted sexual images or graphics; making it appear a person will receive preferential treatment or other advantages at work if the person submits to sexual harassment; or directly or indirectly engaging in any other form of unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. The premier acknowledged that attitudes about what constitutes sexual harassment will need to change, noting that what one person may have intended as a joke could be considered sexual harassment by the individual to whom it is addressed. “Unfortunately, many people in our community are accustomed to using, hearing or receiving language that is considered sexual harassment,” he said. “Therefore, [addressing] sexual harassment involves changes to cultural and social norms. “We know that some may feel that the bill restricts social banter amongst one another or friendly compliments, which may have become normalised. ... It will challenge us to acknowledge that even if a person intends for their conduct to be flattering, it may still be ultimately regarded as offensive if it is allowed to continue.” He added, “We must hold each other accountable and let our peers and colleagues know when a joke or comment crosses the line.” The new bill will undergo a public consultation process, until 15 April, via online comments, emails and public town hall meetings. After that, it will be redrafted with any relevant public input and resubmitted to Cabinet, following which it will be introduced to Parliament for debate and to be passed into law. Dates of town hall meetings will be released at a later date. For more information and to submit feedback on the proposed legislation, visit www.gov.ky/pch/ sexualharassmentbill. Premier unveils long-awaited sexual harassment bill Premier Wayne Panton applauds members of the Sexual Harassment and Stalking Task Force, set up by the Young Business and Professional Women’s Club. - Photos: Norma Connolly Annie Multon, founding member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, has been a staunch campaigner for a sexual harassment law for Cayman. 12 main elements of Sexual Harassment Bill 1. The bill provides a definition, and examples of conduct and circumstances which would constitute sexual harassment. 2. It requires every employer, regardless of the size of the company, to formulate a policy statement about sexual harassment in the workplace. 3. It prohibits employers and employees from committing acts of sexual harassment. 4. It outlines the employer and employee obligations and duty. 5. It imposes sexual harassment liability on an employer under certain circumstances. 6. It requires institutions to have a policy to protect, employees, students, children, residents or clients. 7. It prohibits sexual harassment in the provision of accommodations, goods, services or facilities, including landlord- and-tenant transactions. 8. It requires qualifying bodies, organisations, employment agencies, and professional and civic associations to have a sexual harassment policy. 9. It provides a procedure to make complaints of sexual harassment to the Gender Equality Tribunal, and for the hearing and resolution of such complaints, including orders and costs that may be imposed. 10. It prohibits victimisation of a person as a result of making a complaint. 11. It provides for confidentiality and a limitation on publication of details pertaining to cases appearing before the Gender Equality Tribunal. 12. It provides a sample sexual harassment policy which an entity may adopt or modify as appropriate for use. cayman compass 6 news N news WEEKLY, 3-9 MARCH 2023The Thompson family are profoundly saddened to announce the death of Gene Thompson who peacefully passed away on the 21st February 2023 after a courageous fight against cancer. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, 5th March 2023 at the George Town Seventh Day Adventist Church starting promptly at 2:30pm. The service will be live-streamed with access on genethompson.ky. In lieu of flowers, it was Gene’s wish that donations be made to worthy causes in his name. These charities can be found on genethompson.ky Parking will be located at Bayshore Mall in George Town and the parking lot across from the Government Administration Building, and a shuttle will be provided. Limited parking will be available at the church. While the interment will be private, the Thompsons invite you to celebrate Gene’s life at a repass at the Grand Pavilion Commercial Centre along the Seven Mile Beach corridor following the service. cayman compass 7 WEEKLY, 3-9 MARCH 2023NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky A new report by UK experts highlights some of the biggest threats the Cayman Islands face from climate change. Of the 52 risks analysed in a climate-change risk assessment, which began in late 2021, 18 were considered ‘severe’ based on a combined review of their seriousness, urgency and the available scientific data. Half of those 18 severe risks relate to the economy and society, while the other half are related to biodiversity and habitats, the report notes. The severe risks included impacts to marine species such as sea turtles and corals; loss and damage to natural habitats; disruption to the energy sector; and damage to and inundation of key infrastructure such as sewerage systems, roads, airports, coastal settlements, ports and shipping traffic. The purpose of the detailed 163- page report is to update a climate- change policy drafted in 2011 but never implemented. Existential threats Premier Wayne Panton, who is also the minister for sustainability and climate resiliency, said the climate-change risk assessment provided an important evidence base for informing an updated national climate-change policy, which is currently being developed by a technical working group spearheaded by his ministry and the Department of Environment. “We know small island nations like the Cayman Islands are the figurative ‘canaries in the coalmine’ for the existential threats posed by climate change,” the premier said in the press release accompanying the report. “Initiatives like the Climate Change Risk Assessment and development of an updated national Climate Change Policy are essential to ensuring our community can navigate the ongoing and anticipated challenges of a warming world while balancing our environment, economy and society.” Panton said the technical working group continues to be in contact with the climate-change risk assessment team that drew up the report, and they are working to refine a first draft of the climate- change policy. The risk report analysed a variety of drivers and impacts of climate change, including changes in storms, cyclones, winds, waves and storm surges; sea- New report outlines ‘severe’ climate-change risks for Cayman Top 5 environmental risks:Top 5 socio-economic risks 1: Threats to turtles Beach profile changes from past hurricanes have caused losses of loggerhead and green turtle nests. In the future, further beach erosion, flooding, temperature changes and impacts on food resources are all expected to affect turtle nesting and breeding patterns. Sand temperature affects the proportion of male to female turtles that hatch, which in turn affects future reproduction rates. Flooding affects the survival of turtle eggs and hatchlings, beach erosion reduces the areas available for turtles to breed, and changes to wider ecosystems may mean that there is less food available in the future. 2. Increase in coral bleaching and disease Rising sea temperatures have caused catastrophic increases in the frequency and magnitude of coral-bleaching events, coral disease and death. Rising sea level, sea temperatures and ocean acidification are likely to increase the incidence of coral bleaching and disease. The combination of human and natural pressures on coral reefs could influence how resilient corals are to future climate- change pressures. Corals in Little Cayman, where there are few human pressures, have been more resilient and show fewer impacts from rising temperatures compared with the other islands. 3. Decline in coral reefs Past storms and hurricanes have caused severe damage to reefs and particularly shallow and fringing reefs. Reef structures have been damaged with soft corals and sponges also affected. Expected future changes to hurricane intensity are likely to increase damage to reef structures. Reef structures and integrity will also be affected by ocean acidification and an increase in coral death as a result of coral bleaching. 4. Impact on endemic animals and plants Climate change is affecting endemic species throughout the islands. Hybridisation with invasive species is also a threat. Future climate change puts endemic species at risk because they typically have lower population sizes and their restricted ranges mean they are less able to disperse compared to more widespread species. The extent of climate impacts on endemic species (e.g., the emblematic blue iguana or the rare land snail Cerion nanus) will largely depend on the interaction with other human pressures, such as land-use change. 5. Decline in mangroves Mangrove cover has reduced around the islands, mainly due to human disturbance and development. Hurricanes have also caused retreat or dieback through occasional inundation, after which recovery can be slow. Hurricanes, sea-level rise and storm surges could all damage mangrove forests in the future, exacerbating flooding of coastal infrastructure as the protection afforded by mangroves is lost or reduced. Other severe environmental threats identified by the researchers were a degradation of seagrass beds; contraction of freshwater lenses and salination of groundwaters; impacts on forests and shrublands; and increases in sargassum influxes. 1. Impacts on sewerage and wastewater Changes in hurricane frequency and severity, in conjunction with sea-level rise, pose a risk to wastewater- treatment infrastructure, and in turn to public health and the environment, due to storm surge and surface water flooding from high rainfall events. Storm surges and episodes of high rainfall may exacerbate inland flooding through blockage of the outfalls of drainage systems with hurricane debris. 2. Disruptions to fossil fuel imports, power supplies The Cayman Islands is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels to meet its energy needs. Increases in storm frequency and intensity could hamper fuel deliveries, as well as cause damage to marine ports and infrastructure. Storms and hurricanes also have the potential to cause direct damage to power lines and other transmission infrastructure, as witnessed during Hurricane Ivan. Indirectly, heat waves can increase energy demand for cooling, which have resulted in disruptions to electrical supply in other countries. 3. Disruptions to communications The strong winds during Hurricane Ivan, combined with the intrusion of seawater from the associated storm surge caused extensive damage to telecommunications in the Cayman Islands, with losses estimated at $79.5 million. Some telecommunications lines on the islands are now buried underground. After Hurricane Paloma, landline services in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were disrupted for two to three weeks. 4. Impact on ports and shipping Disruption of maritime transport due to extreme weather events represents a significant risk to the import of goods and therefore food security in the islands, and could significantly impact tourism services. Loss of working days due to the passage of storms, hurricanes or strong winds has become almost an annual occurrence since the 2000s. Any future increase in the severity or frequency of storms is likely to mean that George Town port becomes inoperable more often. Disruption to regional major hubs such as Miami and Jamaica where most commodities dispatched to the Cayman Islands are shipped from would have a cascading effect on the economy. 5. Damage to roads, airports and infrastructure Coastal roads and airports on all three islands are highly vulnerable to flooding and storm surge, as well as impacts from Category 4 and 5 hurricanes. Grand Cayman has a network of primary, secondary, unclassed, access and unpaved roads, which sustained substantial damages of over $146 million during Hurricane Ivan. A one- metre rise in sea level would directly affect around 10% of roads on Grand Cayman, particularly those bordering the North Sound. Other socio-economic threats from climate change outlined in the report included the impact on tourism due to the loss of natural resources, such as beaches, coral reefs and fisheries; damage to coastal settlements and buildings; the disruption to tourism due to hurricanes; and the impact on agriculture because of storm damage. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9» cayman compass 8 news N news WEEKLY, 3-9 MARCH 2023Pay Your Bill, Buy a Prime Bundle or Top Up from $10 to Enter to Win 1 of 19 Smartphones. 19 PHONES FOR 19 YEARS Thank You for Choosing Digicel! CELEBR ATING 1 9 YE ARS level rise; increasing air and sea temperatures; changes in ocean salinity; ocean acidification; and changes to rainfall patterns. It noted that local and regional data indicates that many of these impacts are already occurring, including fewer but more severe rainfall events; increased frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones; and increases in air and sea temperatures. The report was drafted by a panel of experts from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, together with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, an independent, non-profit research institute. In November 2021, the Cayman Islands government began work with this panel to deliver a climate-change risk assessment as a first step in reviewing and updating the draft National Climate Change Policy. Limited information The researchers noted that, in many cases, there is limited information regarding climate- change impacts on Cayman, and the data that is available mostly relates to observations made following September 2004’s Hurricane Ivan, which caused a reported $2.86 billion in damages here. “Ivan’s winds and storm surge caused widespread property damage. A quarter or more of the buildings in the Cayman Islands were rendered uninhabitable, with 95% having some degree of damage. Hence, Ivan has been viewed as a ‘case study’ of what might happen in the future should the frequency or severity of storms increase and as a general test of vulnerabilities and sensitivities across natural ecosystems and human infrastructures within the Cayman Islands,” they stated. However, they added, “Whether or not it is safe to draw such inferences from a single event, or whether the occurrence/ magnitude of Hurricane Ivan can be related back to long-term global warming remains a matter of conjecture.” The report highlights some other gaps in information, such as the potential impact of future climate on maritime safety, stating that when a vessel runs aground, it can cause harm to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves and other essential habitats that are critical to Cayman’s economy and culture. The researchers also acknowledged that their report paid “only scant attention” to the issue of food insecurity, but pointed out that this is a relevant climate-change-related matter, as Cayman imports almost all the food it consumes, mostly from the US. “Therefore climate change impacts on US agricultural production will affect availability and price of these goods with costs indirectly borne by residents and visitors alike,” they stated. The impact on US crops by changes in heat, rainfall and soil quality, together with increased hurricane activity, could “greatly disrupt” food supplies to Cayman “with corresponding impacts on health and resilience”, they noted. Next steps Once a draft of the new policy has been finalised by the technical working group, Cabinet will review it and approve the start of a public consultation. According to the release, there will be a 30-day public consultation period for the draft policy, which is expected to begin around April this year. It said several public meetings will be held across all three islands, and there will be a “digital feedback mechanism to capture community feedback”. Once public feedback has been incorporated into the ultimate draft, the policy will be presented to Cabinet for final review and approval. Implementation planning for the policy is expected to take place over the course of 2023-2024. The impacts of climate change on the ecosystem is one of the risks outlined in the report. - Photo: File CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 cayman compass 9 WEEKLY, 3-9 MARCH 2023Next >