v v Limited Time Only. © 2023 Burger King Corporation. Hot Honey Garlic Crispy Chicken Available Grilled In photos: ‘Cars and Caffeine’ motor show Pages 8-9 Power bills are soaring - here’s why Pages 18-19 Medal tally grows at Island Games Page 25 Your most trusted news source Established 1965 cayman compass $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 14-20 July 2023 On alert Fears abound as robberies escalate Page 5 Phot o: T aneos Ramsa yPolice appeal for ‘restraint’ after attacks on officers Police leaders have called for ‘restraint’ following an alarming rise in attacks on officers in the line of duty. Three police officers have been assaulted in the last two weeks while responding to calls for service. No one was seriously hurt in the incidents but senior officers have warned that any and all attacks on police will be prosecuted. Chief Superintendent Brad Ebanks said, “Assaults on police officers are offences that are taken very seriously and will not be tolerated by the RCIPS.” A male officer was assaulted after he responded to a property damage report on Seven Mile Public Beach on 1 July. He was assisting a female officer when he was attacked by a man, not directly involved in the incident, according to an RCIPS press release. The man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting police, and was later bailed while investigations continue. A decision from prosecutors is pending. Two more incidents – on 5 July in North Side, and on 9 July in East End – involved officers being assaulted after being called out to ‘domestic’ incidents. Former Hyatt hotel conversion gets green light Three derelict hotel buildings that were part of the former Hyatt hotel, are getting converted into a creative campus with work spaces, hotel rooms, an event space, shops and gardens. The Central Planning Authority has granted planning permission for the “repurposing” of part of the former Hyatt resort – a process which is expected to take two years. Palm Sunrise, the operators of luxury resort Palm Heights, will develop and run the new facility in Grand Cayman, which will be accessible to both residents and visitors. The current site features five buildings, constructed around 1990, which were home to the Hyatt before being seriously damaged during Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Complete redevelopment is expected to take place in two phases. So far only the southwest phase – consisting of redevelopment of three buildings, a new covered entrance, six pavilions and 154 parking spaces – has been given planning permission. Road-rage murder suspect appears in court A single charge of murder against Bryan Welcome has been sent to the Grand Court, where he must appear on 21 July. “This defendant was charged overnight with one count of murder; that being a category A matter, it must be transmitted to the Grand Court,” prosecutor Scott Wainwright said in Summary Court on 11 July. The deceased, who the prosecution has identified as Omar Ryan of Clarendon, Jamaica, was resident in Cayman. According to a statement from the RCIPS, prior to the killing, both men had been engaged in a verbal dispute that became physical and “the victim appears to have been struck by a car”. No bail application was made. Welcome was remanded into custody. HSA introduces tiny remote heart-monitors An irregular heartbeat, experienced a handful of times over his lifetime, led John Fahy to getting his heart monitored. While that previously involved him having to tape a Holter monitor to his chest for up to 48 hours, now, inside his skin, near his heart, he has a small device – about the size of a pill – which enables a doctor to remotely monitor his heartbeat. The Health Services Authority recently introduced this procedure, which involves using the world’s smallest insertable cardiac monitor, the Medtronic LINQ. The tiny device can help doctors keep track of a patients’ heartbeat 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to determine if there is an irregular heartbeat. The device has a small lithium battery that can usually last three to four years. The procedure to implant the monitor takes approximately 15 minutes under local anaesthetic. Fahy said that, after the procedure to insert the monitoring device, there was no discomfort, minimal scarring, and the monitor was not visible under his skin. Man sentenced to 21 years for attempted murder Luisto Eusebio Hernandez has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for shooting his father- in-law twice, over a heated dispute that started about the right way to feed Hernandez’s young child a mango. Hernandez, 28, was convicted by a jury last month of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm, a little over a year after he opened fire on his father-in- law at their tenement yard in George Town. “I accept that the complainant threw a glass bottle that shattered and injured this defendant’s young daughter,” said Justice Roger Chapple at Hernandez’s sentencing hearing on 11 July, but added, “I don’t accept that the complainant’s actions were a significant degree of provocation...” 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 film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. ELEMENTAL (PG) (FRI-SAT, MON-THURS) 12:45 VIP | 3:55 (SUN) 3:55 INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (PG-13) (FRI, MON-THURS) 12:20 | 3:40 VIP | 6:35 | 7:35 VIP (SAT) 12:20 | 3:40 VIP | 7:35 VIP (SUN) 3:40 VIP | 6:35 | 7:35 VIP INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR (PG-13) (FRI-SAT, MON-THURS) 12:30 VIP | 1:25 | 7:00 VIP | 10:05 VIP | 10:10 (SUN) 7:00 VIP | 10:10 | 10:15 VIP MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING - PART ONE (PG-13) (FRI) 12:25 | 1:00 VIP | 3:05 VIP | 4:25 | 6:35 VIP | 7:30 | 8:00 | 9:35 VIP (SAT) 12:25 | 1:00 VIP | 3:05 VIP | 3:50 | 4:45 | 6:35 VIP | 7:30 | 8:35 | 9:35 VIP (SUN) 3:15 VIP | 3:50 | 4:45 | 6:45 VIP | 7:30 | 8:35 | 9:35 VIP (MON, WED-THURS) 12:25 | 1:00 VIP | 3:05 VIP | 3:50 | 4:25 | 6:35 VIP | 7:30 | 8:00 | 9:35 VIP (TUES) 12:25 | 1:00 VIP | 3:05 VIP | 3:50 | 4:25 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 9:35 VIP NT LIVE 2023: OTHELLO (TBC) (FRI-THURS) 4:45 | 8:00 SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (PG) (FRI, MON-THURS) 12:45 | 4:30 VIP | 7:05 | 10:00 (SAT) 12:45 | 4:30 VIP | 7:05 (SUN) 4:30 VIP | 7:05 | 10:00 TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS (PG-13) (FRI-THURS) 4:05 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK KIDS CLUB OVER THE HEDGE SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) KIDS CLUB MOANA SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) CLASSICS PRETTY WOMAN TUESDAY 7PM VIP (R) FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. 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WINDS East to northeast at 10 to 15 knots. 89°F HIGH 80°F LOW NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCH-GILLIES news in brief The derelict remains of the former Hyatt hotel in Grand Cayman. - Photo: Rebecca Bird cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 2023cayman compass 3 WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 20231234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Ascertain opinions of (7) 5 Region’s animal life (5) 8 Energetically (4,1,4) 9 A generation (3) 10 Stratagem (4) 12 A binding agreement (8) 14 Public brawl (6) 15 Abundance (6) 17 High-ranking military (3,5) 18 Prevent (4) 21 Conclusion (3) 22 Remain uncultivated (3,6) 24 To tarnish (5) 25 Run and skip playfully (7) DOWN 1 Shrink back in fear (5) 2 Enmesh (3) 3 On opponents’ ground (4) 4 Petitioner (6) 5 With maximum force (4,4) 6 Confronted with (2,7) 7 In an expert manner (7) 11 Play down (4-5) 13 Impartial treatment (4,4) 14 Ingenuous (7) 16 Evaluate (6) 19 Legal authority (5) 20 Factual information (4) 23 One stage of journey (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17369 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 17369 ACROSS: 1 Canvass, 5 Fauna, 8 With a will, 9 Age, 10 Ruse, 12 Contract, 14 Affray, 15 Plenty, 17 Top brass, 18 Stop, 21 End, 22 Lie fallow, 24 Sully, 25 Scamper. DOWN: 1 Cower, 2 Net, 3 Away, 4 Suitor, 5 Full tilt, 6 Up against, 7 Adeptly, 11 Soft-pedal, 13 Fair play, 14 Artless, 16 Assess, 19 Power, 20 Data, 23 Lap. What they’re saying Letters to the editor I’m deeply concerned by the recent Cayman Compass headline attributed to the chair of the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board that ‘Controversial’ changes to PR system will be in ‘best interests of Caymanians’ (6 July 2023). Being a Caymanian, my concern does not rest with the intention to protect the ‘best interests of Caymanians’. That, of course, should always be the goal of any government-related body. Instead, I’m troubled because the same sentiment from the same board was used to deny my initial application for the Right to be Caymanian, and the broad indefiniteness of that sentiment was subsequently denounced by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal as “wholly subjective”. Specifically, the board’s denial of my application was solely based on Section 30 (a) of the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022 Revision), which states: “In the course of processing an application for the right to be Caymanian, the Board shall satisfy itself that - (a) such grant would be in the public interest”. Having been an educator since 2009 at the University College of the Cayman Islands, a former business owner on Cayman Brac, a past-president and Rotarian since 2008, and a property owner since 2002 with multiple parcels on both the Brac and Grand Cayman, it was devastating to be told that I did not deserve to be a Caymanian because it would not be in the public interest. In its review of the matter, the Immigration Appeals Tribunal called the 32-word decision of the board “...unreasonable, as the Board did not provide an explanation as to what was considered and reason(s) why the grant of this application to this Appellant would not be in the public’s interest.’ I suffered months of anguish and great expense to challenge an unsubstantiated pronouncement that I somehow didn’t belong in a land that I was so very proud to call my home. Now, I worry anew that this board’s actions will improperly exclude other deserving applicants. J.D. Mosley-Matchett Three airports, two decades, one master plan Do you really need to spend $1.38 million to know what an environmental impact assessment of a building and housing a new airport in Little Cayman will bring? The last bastion of an untouched magnificent piece of paradise. While one has to keep pace with growth, please refrain from doing it to compete with some of the other islands that cannot hold a candle to Cayman, which has had a relatively safe environment, [though] not as much as it once did. What do you think happens with significant growth? Is there an assessment study and how to address it, or do we keep on going and worry about that later? Families will seek and find another relatively uncluttered island to [go] to. It appears that inch by inch, the... Cayman that everyone that has been coming to for over 30 years with their families, is slowly disappearing. Evelyn C. This timetable is laughable. In 10 years’ time, the cost will have tripled, many of the politicians responsible will be extinct, and deadlines will have come and gone with no doubt painfully slow progress. The recent airport ‘upgrade’ had key ingredients deleted along the way, so, for example, the air bridges were eliminated as a cost saving, a decision so shortsighted that Grand Cayman still gives the impression of an outpost in a third world country. Look at the progress of Bermuda and compare their airport facility with ours. They already have a facility that is better that what is being envisaged for Cayman a decade (probably two) into the future. Add in all the delays that will be encouraged by activist environmentalists and we have a dead-on-arrival plan. David A. ‘Dope Olympics’ It is unfortunate that Mr. Fraser is supporting this hare-brained scheme. It will only encourage the drug cheats to cheat even more and risk their health in doing so. His claim that athletes struggle to pay for their own training is misleading; this may apply to a small minority, but in most cases they are funded by their own Olympic associations and/or their own countries. Cayman athletes have received this support for decades. Mr. Fraser is an icon in the Cayman swimming community with an unblemished record. I hope he reconsiders his decision. Trusty2man D. Underwater photographer Don Inose captured this stunning image of a seahorse at the Don Foster’s dive site in George Town recently. This seahorse has been hanging out on the seabed at a depth of about 12 feet, not far from the dive site’s dock, for several weeks, and has been the photography model for many local divers, including Inose. He said he first spotted the creature on 2 July, and has been out to visit it five times. “This shot was on my third visit and probably my second shot,” he said. Mane attraction pic of the week Tribunal finds board’s denial of status ‘unreasonable’ Online cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 2023WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 2023ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky While the general consensus in Cayman is that the islands are still a safe place to live and work, residents who recently spoke to the Compass on their fears about crime, and their experiences and encounters with armed robbers, say more should be done to catch the offenders and deter others from breaking the law. Due to the sensitive nature of this report, the Compass is not releasing the names of the people interviewed. These are their stories. ‘Fright and fear’ Under a moonlit summer’s night sky, outside a 24-hour convenience store in George Town, a handful of customers patiently wait for a cashier to release the electromagnetic lock on the front door and buzz them in. The women, with their handbags gripped close, keep a wary eye for any signs of danger, while the men, with clenched fists, guard their phones, wallets and other valuables. It’s 9pm and, inside, cashiers are changing shift. With nervous glances at the store’s CCTV, the outgoing cashier hastily scrapes loose change and a quantity of small paper bills into a waterproof money bag, before hurrying off to stash the day’s take for safe keeping. “I’ve been robbed twice, once with a knife, and the next time at gunpoint,” said the cashier. When he arrived in Grand Cayman in December, he quickly embraced the island’s tranquil and easy-going lifestyle. Seven months later, he has been left so traumatised by the robberies, he can no longer work late-night shifts. “I come from a country with political corruption and a bad economy, but I’ve never been robbed or had a gun pointed in my face,” he said, as he recalled the terrifying ordeals. “It was late at night, and I couldn’t see their faces because they were blocked by a section of tinted window, but I didn’t think anything of it because I could see they were wearing construction pants and boots, so I let them in,” he said. “When they came in, I realised they were wearing masks and one of them pointed a gun at my head. “’Give me the money,’ he told me, so I just put my hands up, lowered my head, then opened the till and they took the cash.” The lingering fear flashes across his face as he recalls the robbers asking for more money. “I kept telling them, ‘Look for yourself, that’s it, there isn’t any more, that’s all I have,’” he said. Security measures not effective deterrents In recent years, businesses have deployed a slew of security measures, with the hopes of deterring criminals. “It does work sometimes, but, really, criminals are still finding their way around it,” the cashier said. “They wait for customers and rush in behind them, some use sticks to keep the door from locking them in, others have friends to hold the doors for them. So, no matter what you do, they always seem to find a way.” But these security measures are expensive and serve as an additional tax on businesses. “Can you imagine putting all these things in place, only to still get robbed, and for the criminals to still get away?” asked the cashier. “What sense does it make?” Robberies on the rise Compass records show that between 1 Jan. and 7 July this year, there were 26 reported armed robberies, two more than the 24 reported during the same period last year. But a more troubling detail is that some robberies do not appear to be reported. In some cases, it’s because hold-ups may be occurring at premises where gambling activities are going on, while in others, it may be because the victims don’t feel like it’s worth reporting to police. The Compass is aware of one recent incident in which a waterfront business was robbed by a man on a bicycle. This was the second such robbery at the premises, and the owners did not report it. “What’s the point in calling police? By the time they get there, the robbers are gone and then it’s just a gamble on if they will catch them. Most of the time, they don’t,” said one resident who has lived on Grand Cayman for 14 years. A search of Compass articles reveals that half of the reported robberies of 2023 have involved two suspects, with at least one of them armed with a gun. The primary targets are small businesses which are usually struck within two hours after sunset. To a lesser degree, robbers are also targeting people on the streets, in their homes, at ATMs and outside commercial complexes. While the weapon of choice remains a small handgun, knives are also being used and, in at least one case, a machete. When the Compass approached the long-term resident for an interview in the parking lot of a commercial bank, he demanded the reporter identify himself before approaching him. “You just can’t be too careful nowadays, you know,” said the resident. “I’ve had to change up how I move and be more aware, so no one can just sneak up on me, because things are getting from bad to worse.” In press releases, the RCIPS has told of the horrific encounters that residents and business owners have endured at the hands of robbers since the start of the year. For example, on 3 March, at around 8:30pm, a George Town woman and her friends, who were at her home socialising, were held at gunpoint after two masked men entered her yard and opened fire. “It was reported that one of the men approached the woman, grabbed bags belonging to her, and then fired a gunshot through the roof of the tent under which the woman and her friends were sitting,” said police. “The man then departed the residence on foot with the other man.” Two months and several robberies later, police were called to Eastern Avenue, where a robber shot at and chased a man from his car into a bar during a 3am robbery. “It was reported that following a dispute inside the bar, a masked man, armed with a firearm, approached the victim as he went to leave in his vehicle and demanded his valuables,” said police. “The man used the door of his vehicle to push past the robber and ran from his vehicle in the direction of the bar, at which time the man fired at him. “The armed man chased the victim back inside the bar before leaving and stealing the victim’s motor vehicle.” Zero tolerance approach to crime? The rise in crime has not gone unnoticed by Cayman’s leaders. In a 7 July address to the country, after a meeting to discuss the robbery sprees with Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne and Governor Jane Owen, Premier Wayne Panton said his government and police were taking a “zero tolerance approach to crime”, and that an action plan was put in place to detect, investigate and stem the rising number of robberies. This plan included deploying a task force to investigate leads and leverage intelligence to apprehend suspects; targeted patrolling of high-risk areas; maintaining a police presence on the roads; and active community patrols. The July meeting between police and government officials came the day after armed robbers targeted three separate businesses – a Domino’s Pizza, a McRuss store and a Burger King – in a single night. In recent weeks, several other restaurants, bars, and even a bank in broad daylight, have been subjected to attempted or successful robberies. In his 7 July address, the premier said, “The commissioner has reassured the government that the RCIPS has already activated plans to tackle the spate of robberies which resulted in four arrests…, as well as a second man being charged for involvement in the recent bank armed robbery.” Since then, another four robbery suspects have been arrested, Panton said in a subsequent statement, on 11 July. In that statement, he urged members of the public to cooperate with police, and come forward if Special report: Rising fear as robberies escalate As robbery numbers continue to trend upwards, the Cayman Compass, in a special feature, took to the streets to hear from shopkeepers, pedestrians and late-night commuters to hear what they had to say about the recent sustained surge in violent crimes. Police say they have heightened patrols in hot spot areas. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 2023 5REBECCA BIRD rbird@compassmedia.ky The world has just experienced the hottest week on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. This follows on from the hottest globally recorded June, with unprecedented sea surface temperatures and record low Antarctic sea ice coverage. Temperatures in the Cayman Islands also continue to be uncomfortably high with the heat index – or real feel – reaching 105 degrees Fahrenheit every day since Friday, 7 July. And with the hot weather comes increased utility bills as residents use fans and air conditioning to stay cool, along with health risks from overheating. In June, John Tibbetts, director general of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, said climate change is causing more frequent and intense heatwaves. “The dangers to human health from heatwaves are significantly increased when accompanied with high humidity,” he told the Compass in an emailed comment. “The high ‘real feel’ temperatures we are experiencing in the Cayman Islands are consistent with the expected impacts of climate change on our air temperatures.” Tibbetts said data shows that average annual air temperatures have increased by about 2.2 degrees Celsius over the past 40 years in the Cayman Islands. He explained that within the draft Climate Change Policy there are several strategies to directly help Cayman communities and vulnerable groups deal with higher temperatures. According to provisional analysis, the average global temperature on 7 July was 17.24 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit). This is 0.3°C above the previous record of 16.94 °C (62 degrees Fahrenheit) on 16 Aug. 2016 – a strong El Niño year. Meanwhile, a report from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service showed that June 2023 was just over 0.5°C above the 1991-2020 average. Record temperatures were experienced across northwest Europe, parts of Canada, the United States, Mexico, Asia, and eastern Australia. Christopher Hewitt, director of climate services at the World Meteorological Organization, said the high June temperature is related to the onset of El Niño. The weather phenomenon is expected to further fuel the heat both on land and in the oceans, and lead to more extreme temperatures and marine heatwaves. “We are in uncharted territory and we can expect more records to fall as El Niño develops further and these impacts will extend into 2024,” Hewitt said in a press release. Global sea surface temperatures were at a record high for the time of the year both in May and June. The climate change service suspects this was caused by a combination of short-term anomalous circulation in the atmosphere and longer-term changes in the ocean. Michael Sparrow, head of World Meteorological Organization’s World Climate Research Division, said the temperatures in the North Atlantic are of great concern. “They are much higher than anything the models predicted. This will have a knock-on effect on ecosystems and fisheries and on our weather,” he said. “The North Atlantic is one of the key drivers of extreme weather. With the warming of the Atlantic there is an increasing likelihood of more hurricanes and tropical cyclones.” Stay safe in the sun Dr. Elizabeth McLaughlin, head of the Accident and Emergency Department at the Cayman Islands Hospital, offered advice for hot days: • Stay out of the sun and indoors as much as possible, especially between 11am and 3pm • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and sunscreen • Stay hydrated with water or non- alcoholic drinks • Avoid extreme exercise • Cool the skin (ice packs wrapped in cloth under the armpits or around the neck, spraying skin with cool water) “Most heat-related illnesses do not usually need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes,” McLaughlin said. “Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are weakness, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting and headache. “But, if it turns into heatstroke (such as altered mental state or behaviour, rapid breathing, or heart rate), it needs to be treated as an emergency and you should call 911 or go to Accident and Emergency immediately.” World marks hottest week on record as Cayman temperatures soar “The dangers to human health from heatwaves are significantly increased... with high humidity.” - John Tibbbetts, director general of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service John Tibbetts, director general of Cayman Islands National Weather Service. The heat index in Cayman has reached 105 degrees every day since 7 July. cayman compass 6 news N news WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 2023REBECCA BIRD rbird@compassmedia.ky An application to build a 50-foot- deep commercial quarry across 29 acres in Bodden Town has led the Central Planning Authority to call for a review of a 19-year-old policy. Barrington Bennett and Amelia De Wood submitted plans to excavate 2.3 million cubic yards of aggregate over three years at a site next to the protected Meagre Bay Pond. But the matter has been adjourned to allow for reassessment of a 2004 policy which limits the amount of aggregate that the Cayman Islands can hold in reserve. In the recently published minutes of the 21 June meeting when the plan was discussed, the planning board said the policy is “out of date and needs to be revisited”. It questioned “the accuracy and realistic application of the current aggregate reserve thresholds” and said the quarry application should not be refused based solely on that. According to the planning authority’s Aggregate Policy, approved in Cabinet in July 2004, quarry approvals should be based on the principle of supply and demand. It states that no new quarries can be built until aggregate reserves are reduced to 5 million cubic yards – the equivalent of a five-year supply. The last review in 2021, however, determined that the aggregate reserve was well above the threshold, at 32 million cubic yards. But, during the meeting, the applicants argued that the policy is flawed as the reserve indicates how much aggregate is allowed to be excavated and not what is immediately available. Operators are not forced to produce a certain amount so aggregate is limited, allowing them to keep prices high, the applicants said, adding that the policy- mandated bi-annual surveys are not carried out. Advisory committee’s review In its review of the applicants’ $30 million plans, the Aggregate Advisory Committee said it did not find an exceptional need to disregard the Aggregate Policy. “The policy has served Cayman very well over the past 20 years to facilitate development while minimising its impact on the environment,” it wrote. The committee said when a new source of aggregate is needed to supply the demand, all previous applications should be considered and the most suitable proposal accepted. It said it intends to update the Aggregate Policy over the next year to ensure that it continues to provide guidance to meet its objectives. The committee also brought up other concerns such as the quarry’s potential impact on the Meagre Bay protected area – “a wetland of national significance”. “There is empirical evidence that the mangroves in the protected area have been declining over recent years, and it is hypothesised this is due to impacts of quarrying,” it said. “If there is a link between quarry activities and the decline of this protected area, then it is essential that an effective solution is implemented to mitigate further damage.” The planning authority said the applicant is required to conduct an environmental impact assessment to allow for further consideration of the application. Adjourned again At the same meeting, Cayman Enterprise City’s application for modifications to an ‘urban city’ in South Sound was adjourned at the request of the attorney of one of the objectors. “They advised they had just been retained and needed sufficient time to take proper instruction from their client,” the authority said. Kirk Marine was granted retrospective planning permission to turn part of a warehouse on Boilers Road in George Town into a boating and water-sports shop. Stacey Clark was granted permission for a $500,000 plan to turn a yoga studio at Marquee Plaza on West Bay Road into a veterinary clinic. The authority also approved $140,000 plans for a bandstand and canopy at Owen Roberts International Airport in George Town. The bandstand will consist of a 160-square-foot canopy in the passenger arrivals building; the 1,590-square-foot canopy with restroom will be at the taxi stand staging area. Policy limiting quarries is ‘out of date’, says planning authority Developers have applied to dig a quarry near Meagre Bay Pond. - Image: Google Maps REBECCA BIRD rbird@compassmedia.ky Minister for Labour Dwayne Seymour said increasing the minimum wage is “not a big benefit” to most Caymanians and may leave them unable to afford services such as private nannies. The minister’s comments came just weeks after the Compass reported the $6-an-hour minimum pay is 50 cents below starvation wage and leaves people vulnerable to poverty. “They could really be in danger,” Lemuel Hurlston, head of the Minimum Wage Review Committee, said last month on the Cayman Compass Facebook talkshow ‘The Resh Hour’. Seymour, speaking on the ‘Doctor Doug in the Morning’ show on Gold radio on Monday, 10 July, noted there may not be a lot of local support for the increase. “You may hear a lot of Caymanians not enthused about the minimum wage because that’s not what they depend on,” he said. While he agrees the minimum wage, which is paid mostly to foreign workers, needs to increase, he added, “Who is the minimum wage going to benefit?” The labour minister said that when the minimum wage was introduced in 2016, the salaries of nannies doubled from $3 to $6 per hour. “And who did that affect? It affected Caymanians who needed a nanny to care for their children, and now they can’t afford it so they have got to share a nanny now. “So we need to understand every action has a reaction.” The Minimum Wage Review Committee is in the process of gathering public opinion at town hall meetings and through an online survey. One of the issues the committee is looking at is whether a different minimum wage should be associated with certain professions. Seymour agreed with this option, saying it will “ensure that it doesn’t directly impact the society in terms of most of the population not being able to afford a lot of things”. The committee plans to present its findings to the government at the end of September. While the labour minister said the minimum wage will definitely go up, he said the government needs to “walk very carefully” when it gets the report. “If it’s done straight across the board, who’s [that] going to affect? Obviously, it’s Caymanians that are going to be the ones that it affects most,” he said. “Because it’s not a big benefit to most Caymanians in employ because they already make more than the normal minimum wage,” he said. “So we need to understand that and appreciate it, but I don’t expect persons to come here either and work in poverty from overseas.” People suffering While sceptical of an increase in the minimum wage, Seymour said Caymanians, who are mostly on a higher salary, are themselves suffering from a high cost of living. “I hear it every day that persons are saying, look, you know, everybody else is living better than us,” he said. “People are coming here and living better than us and we’re suffering and we can’t afford groceries, we can’t afford gas. “People are feeling left behind. I can tell you that’s the sentiment out there.” He said government needs to pay attention and cannot pretend that there is nothing it can do. “There’s always something that the government can do. We just need to be willing to go out there and extend ourselves,” Seymour said. He stressed that these are tough times, adding, “It’s only one year now since we’ve been fully out of the pandemic; we had two years of shutdown. “We cannot recover in two years. People are suffering, and the thing about Caymanians is that Caymanians are so proud, a lot of them are suffering silently.” He added, “So we really need to ensure that we understand that the climate of the Cayman Islands, the climate of the world, is one in need. Everybody needs a boost right now.” Seymour sceptical of benefits of raising minimum wage Labour Minister Dwayne Seymour says raising the minimum wage above $6 a hour could have a detrimental effect on Caymanians who employ nannies. - Photo: File cayman compass 7 WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 2023caymannational.com 5457 | CAYMAN NATIONAL | HOME LOAN | CAYMAN COMPASS | HP | 09 JUNE 2023 | BB&P GRAND CAYMAN | +1 345 916 0172 | INFO@BBANDP.COM | BBANDP.COM Up to 95% mortgage financing Commitment Fee: .50% of the loan amount Pre-approved credit card Talk to our Personal Lending team at +1 345 949-8300 today or email lending@caymannational.com. Offer available from 13 June 2023. Other conditions may also apply. Term: Up to 40 years Interest Rate: Variable or Fixed and negotiable based on risk factors Get your dream home with a 95% loan 95 / (Hurry! Offer available only for a limited time) Motoring enthusiasts descended on Camana Bay on Sunday for an adrenaline- fuelled afternoon of ‘Cars and Caffeine’. Organised by Tony’s Toy’s Automotive Center, the family event featured classic cars, street bikes, and food and soda trucks to power the spectators. Among the highlights were a Stingray Corvette and a Dodge Charger Hellcat. Here is a selection of some of the best shots of the day by Cayman Compass photographer Taneos Ramsay. cayman compass 8 news N news WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 2023Motoring enthusiasts descended on Camana Bay on Sunday for an adrenaline- fuelled afternoon of ‘Cars and Caffeine’. Organised by Tony’s Toy’s Automotive Center, the family event featured classic cars, street bikes, and food and soda trucks to power the spectators. Among the highlights were a Stingray Corvette and a Dodge Charger Hellcat. Here is a selection of some of the best shots of the day by Cayman Compass photographer Taneos Ramsay. cayman compass 9 news N news WEEKLY, 14-20 JULY 2023Next >