© 2023 Burger King Corporation. Fiery Jalapeño Cheese Extra Long Fiery Jalapeño Cheese Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism Weekly, 11-17 August 2023 Sexual harassment bill gains steam Page 6 Police arrest Cold Case suspect Page 8 Profi le: Olympian Kanza Bodden Page 21 cayman compass Victims mount in 'pig butchering' crypto racket Page 5 Notorious scam hits Cayman Profi le: Olympian Kanza BoddenMid-season forecast now calls for more storms As the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season nears the halfway point, forecasters have increased their predictions in response to record- warm sea surface temperatures, that they say are likely to generate more storms. In their annual mid-season prediction, forecasters at the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration increased storm ranges for all categories as part of a revised forecast which now calls for an ‘above average’ season. “Forecasters believe that current ocean and atmospheric conditions, such as record-warm Atlantic sea surface temperatures, are likely to counterbalance the usually limiting atmospheric conditions associated with the ongoing El Niño event,” said NOAA in a statement released on its website on 10 Aug. The new prediction, which is valid through the 30 Nov. end of hurricane season, now calls for between 14 and 21 named storms, with six to 11 hurricanes – of which two to six are expected to become major storms. In May, when NOAA issued its initial annual forecast, it called for between 12 and 17 named storms with winds of 39 miles per hour or higher. Extra cash approved for seafarers, elderly Government has improved an increase of $300 a month in benefi ts for seafarers, veterans, the elderly and those with permanent disabilities, bringing the monthly payments they receive to $1,250. Minister for Social Development André Ebanks announced the increase, effective immediately, on 7 Aug. As well as seafarers and veterans receiving ex-gratis monthly payments, the 30% increase will benefi t older people and adults living with permanent disabilities who receive fi nancial assistance from the government through Needs Assessment Unit stipends and who represent two-thirds of the NAU’s clientele, Ebanks said. A one-time back payment of $300 for July to assist with summer utility increases has also been paid, he said. Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart, responding to the increase in the assistance, described it as “a very good start,” but said more should be done for Cayman’s needy. He said, during the Progressives’ tenure in government, the payment was raised from $500 to $950. “This assistance needs to increase further due to the dramatic increases in food and everyday costs,” he said. Police station arson suspect denied bail A 55-year-old man who is accused of setting fi re to North Side Police Station in July was remanded in custody following a failed bail application. Dave Ebanks, of Rum Point Drive in North Side, was arrested on 2 Aug., and charged with arson. He appeared before Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez in Summary Court on 7 Aug. He has been ordered to return to court on 18 Aug. The charge is in relation to a fi re at the station in the early hours of Monday, 31 July. No one was at the station at the time of the blaze, which was reported around 2am. Since the fi re, the station, which was badly damaged, is no longer operational. Offi cers are currently operating out of the East End Police Station. COVID-19 vaccines to be offered seasonally The Public Health Department is transitioning from administering COVID-19 vaccines monthly to offering it seasonally, as cases of the virus decline globally and the last batch of Moderna vaccines on island hits its expiration date. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nick Gent, in a statement on the new policy, reminded that COVID-19 remains a significant threat to the elderly and clinically vulnerable. “As we move into the next phase of living with COVID-19, we will change our routine immunization programme to include making available annual boosters of COVID-19 vaccine to the elderly and vulnerable alongside our infl uenza immunization programme,” Gent said. Public Health said it will announce the new batch of COVID-19 vaccines once available on island, which will be similar to the approach it takes with the annual fl u vaccines. Two women report being indecently assaulted on buses Police have issued an appeal for anyone who has been the victim of indecent assault on a public bus to come forward, after offi cers received complaints from two women recently. In a statement on 5 Aug., a spokesperson for the RCIPS said both women reported being inappropriately touched by another passenger while travelling on a public bus. “[It] is suspected that there may have been other incidents that have gone unreported for various reasons,” police said. “Anyone who has been assaulted in this manner while travelling on public transport buses in the Cayman Islands are encouraged to report these incidents to the police by calling 649-2930 and leaving a message with your full name and contact details.” No other details were provided about the incident or the suspect in question. Former cop accused of stealing thousands in rent money A case against a former police constable accused of stealing thousands of dollars in rent money from his housemate and not paying his landlord has been delayed pending ongoing investigations. Andrew Benjamin, 31, of Bodden Town, faces one count of theft and five counts of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception. According to court documents, the charges stem from an agreement between Benjamin and his former landlord on a 12-month lease which required him to pay $2,000 rent monthly from 1 Oct. 2021 to 30 Sept. 2022. It is claimed in the court documents that Benjamin and his former housemate were evicted for failing to pay their rent after it was discovered that no money had been paid into the property manager’s accounts. At the time of the eviction, both men are said to have owed a combined $18,000. However, Benjamin’s housemate is alleged to have told offi cers he had paid $8,000 as his contribution towards the rent. 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 weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Slight chance isolated showers SEA STATE Slight with a wave height of 1 to 3 feet. WINDS Light and variable. 90°F HIGH 80°F LOW NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCHGILLIES news in brief NOAA has increased the number of hurricanes forecast due to record-warming sea temperature. - Image: Courtesy of NOAA cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 11 17 AUGUST 2023With an overwhelming show of support, the owners of Lacovia have given their resounding approval for a $350 million redevelopment project, securing a bright future for this prominent landmark. With a strong show of unity, the owners demonstrated their commitment by rallying behind the redevelopment proposal, surpassing the statutory requirement with over 90% support. Andrew Bolton, Chairman of the strata’s Executive Committee, commented “The Executive Committee is delighted by the resounding mandate from the ownership group. This is the result of a lot of hard work by the Executive Committee and a testament to Bronte’s expertise. Their remarkable ability to assemble a world-class team has been pivotal in orchestrating this fi rst-of-its-kind project here in the Cayman Islands”. HANDOVER SET FOR SEPTEMBER. As the transformation gears up to commence in September, IP Driver Ltd, the local subsidiary of the Canadian fi rm JV Driver Construction Ltd, will orchestrate the preparatory work, paving the way for demolition. Following demolition, construction will begin, crafted with meticulous care and the promise of unrivaled modern luxury. GRAND IS NOT A STATUS THAT COMES EASILY. Against the backdrop of this grand revitalization, only 15 units remain available for sale. As the project gains momentum, those looking to secure their slice of paradise are encouraged to act swiftly. “With raw land increasingly scarce on Seven Mile Beach and a lack of new developments on the horizon, the remaining units at Lacovia are considered a rarity.” said Stefan Cohen, Owner/ Director of The AgencyRE Cayman Islands. “In addition, Lacovia will off er the ultimate in resort-style versatility for those looking to achieve attractive rental yield opportunities through short term rentals.” Lacovia’s redevelopment is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s a testament to the power of a shared vision. As September approaches, the countdown to a new chapter for Lacovia begins — one that promises to redefi ne elegance, redefi ne luxury, and redefi ne life on Seven Mile Beach. C A YMAN ISLANDS $350M Redevelopment Green -Lighted Owners Unite for an Iconic Revival on Seven Mile Beach. To learn more visit lacovia.com. For sales enquiries contact: Stefan Cohen, Owner/Director stefan.cohen@theagencyre.com (345) 926 8638 Fleur Coleman, Owner/Broker fl eur.coleman@theagencyre.com (345) 916 0678 Lacovia East will off er the ultimate in resort- style versatility for those looking to achieve attractive rental yield. S PO NSO RED C O NTENT cayman compass 3 WEEKLY, 11-17 AUGUST 2023������� �� ������ �� ���� �� ������ �� ������ ���� ������� �� ������ �� ���� �� ������ �� ������ ���� ACROSS 1 Attire (7) 5 Flagrant (5) 8 Inscrutable expression (5,4) 9 Excessively (3) 10 A dark red (4) 12 Consider appropriate (5,3) 14 Russian wolfhound (6) 15 To decree (6) 17 Totally congested traffic jam (8) 18 Prepare for publication (4) 21 Newt (3) 22 Victorious expedient (5,4) 24 Substantial (5) 25 By implication (7) DOWN 1 Prank (5) 2 A durable wood (3) 3 Unfeeling (4) 4 To bandage (6) 5 Verdant foliage (8) 6 Peremptorily (3,2,4) 7 Abbreviate (7) 11 A lawyer (9) 13 Casino game of chance (8) 14 Ironically dismissive expression (3,4) 16 Declare not guilty (6) 19 Modern times (5) 20 Film of heroic deeds (4) 23 A particular skill (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17393 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 17393 ACROSS: 1 Clothes, 5 Gross, 8 Poker face, 9 Too, 10 Ruby, 12 Think fit, 14 Borzoi, 15 Ordain, 17 Gridlock, 18 Edit, 21 Eft, 22 Trump card, 24 Large, 25 Tacitly. DOWN: 1 Caper, 2 Oak, 3 Hard, 4 Swathe, 5 Greenery, 6 Out of hand, 7 Shorten, 11 Barrister, 13 Roulette, 14 Big deal, 16 Acquit, 19 Today, 20 Epic, 23 Art. What they’re saying OnlineLetters to the editor Olympian Kanza Bodden excels in the water and in life What a long list of achievements – and she’s not done yet! Congratulations, Kanza! Helen Dakers Congratulations, our little star! You have made us so proud of your many achievements. Lots of love. Karin Thompson. Congrats Kanza. Big achievements and you are the inspiration for so many. Great article, Alex Dakers. Love it. Alexandra Adapa You are an inspiration to so many young people. Actually, old ones too! Nancy Whitefield Family of fatal accident victim calls for child- support law This family should be supported financially (and every other way) – by law – no question about it; and the perpetrator should be held to account for the very real, human consequences of his actions. I’m so incensed and saddened. Juliet Pilgrim This is a very sad story, but shouldn’t the parents of young kids get life insurance in case something, anything, happens to them? Josee L. Anderson 4 years and 7 months… what a joke! In a country where you can get more years for possession of a firearm than for killing a human being. My heart breaks for Grant’s family. Shorlet Johnson WORC compliance boss targets rogue employers I hope this list will be public. All companies should have a rating system established for them as well, based on how their employees are treated and the laws are followed. Many employees would like to know which companies not to work for. Natascha Schroll-McLaughlin Luxury villas on Little Cayman reopen development discussion With so many species of wildlife endemic to only the Cayman Islands and nowhere else on Earth, there needs to be a plan in place to stop habitat destruction. There is little point in protecting wildlife if you don’t protect their habitat, too. Andrew McLachlan Please, get rid of that planning board! If they don’t see the climate damage they are causing by this rash of over- development, they should stay in their yards! The heat, cement cities Caymanians can’t afford or utilise, and damage to our Islands will never cease under this regime! God, please, help us! PACT them all up and bless us with some good people with Cayman and Caymanians at heart. Lilly Jane Throw away UNESCO recognition for developer portfolios. Your choice, Cayman. Rory Joe McDonough These developers and the Central Planning Authority need reminding about what ‘sustainability’ actually means. So much for Little Cayman’s commitment to becoming recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Clare Marshall This will go as all other development goes. Denied at first. Ability to appeal in six months. Approval. Something is weird with the way that goes all the time. Chris M. Planning board approves Little Cayman resort at Kingston Bight No one wants this, just FYI. It would be nice to keep Little Cayman LITTLE! Jared Bush Heading back to Little Cayman again to stay at Southern Cross Club. Been on the bucket list. So glad we will be returning before there is more development. The building and highways on Grand Cayman has made it so urban compared to years past. I hope the development benefits all Caymanians and does not kill the environment. I would think that money is pushing these developments at the expense of everyone. Protect your islands. Pam Fischer Isn’t the government supposed to be there to heed and execute the will of the majority? Or is it just the majority of the profits earned to investors? I’m confused. Jolene Nelson Neither necessary nor wanted. When are we going to stop this over-development? Eryka Simmons Congratulations. Good for business as Pirates Point closing down. Alton Maxam I read with great interest your recent special report on development concessions in the Cayman Islands [see 4-10 Aug. Cayman Compass ‘The concessions conundrum’]. While I generally feel the less government involvement in these things the better, there are times when concessions can create a real public benefit. For example, trying to manage beach erosion on Seven Mile Beach by granting concessions to redevelopment of properties using managed retreat by increasing ocean setbacks would make sense. Obviously, infrastructure, schools and hospitals are other examples of clear public benefit. What is less clear is the public benefit of the economic stimulus created by private business and housing construction. These deals need to be made public, along with supporting data to show a substantial net economic gain for any such deal. Deals done in the dark invite cronyism. Russ Barlow The Watermark, under construction close to Public Beach, was one of several major developments to attract duty concessions. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay Certain concessions can benefit Cayman cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 11-17 AUGUST 2023WEEKLY, 11-17 AUGUST 2023ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Police are warning residents to be vigilant of a highly effective, emotionally draining and financially devastating scam that has recently surfaced in Cayman, ripping off at least a dozen victims of between $5,000 and $1 million each. It’s called ‘Sha Zhu Pan’ (pronounced shah-joo-pan) – Mandarin for ‘pig butchering’. As the name suggests, the scammers gain the trust of victims, get them to fatten up their coffers by convincing them to hand over money for cypto investments, and then disappear without a trace and with their cash. Investigators explain that Chinese- based crime syndicates in southeast Asia are spending countless hours grooming their victims before inflicting financial and emotional damage and then vanishing into the ether. Not your average scam If you’ve logged into your email and checked your junk folder in the past decade, chances are you’ve been contacted by a ‘Nigerian prince’ who, without knowing you, trusts you enough to help him secure his family’s large fortune by sending him a couple of thousand dollars to process the money, with a promise of giving you a share. Or you might have been informed that you’d won the lottery, or a substantial monetary prize from a competition you never signed up to. Again, for a couple of thousand dollars in processing fees, you can collect this massive windfall. Or perhaps you have seen attempts at online catfishing, where an oil rig worker or a soldier posted overseas tries to build a relationship before asking you for money to help him out. These scams often contain spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, or have dodgy email addresses, usually making it clearly obvious that they’re not legit. This is where Sha Zhu Pan differs. “The people behind this scam in China have actual manuals in Mandarin, teaching scammers how to emotionally and psychologically connect with their victims,” David Templeman of the RCIPS’s Bureau of Financial Investigation told the Cayman Compass. According to Templeman, the victims are usually between 20 and 60 years old, professionals in full-time jobs or recently retired, who have money to spend and, most importantly, are vulnerable. “A wide cross-section of victims have been seen globally, including those who you’d least expect – police officers, those familiar with investment products, graduate students, engineers, consultant doctors, and those working in the virtual currency space,” said Templeman. “Unlike the stereotypical scam victim, many of them are highly educated and digitally savvy.” Selecting the mark and earning their trust When seeking out their victims, the scammers often join dating sites and apps for high-net-worth individuals, or professional social media platforms. “When engaging with their victims, the scammers learn their likes and dislikes, write them on a board to keep track of previous conversations, keep a schedule to message them, and often check in on previous problems,” Templeman said. He added, “In some cases, they will hire, say, a European modelling agency to take pictures and videos of a model doing sporting, business or just everyday activities in line with the information they have learned and, over time, sporadically send those images to the victims.” Templeman explained that the scammers have thought of almost everything, including a fatal flaw in this digital world. “When victims ask for video calls, the scammers often claim to be travelling or busy with work, which is often supported by the fake images,” he explained. How the scam works Once the victim’s trust is earned, the scammers subtly set their traps. In many cases, after a couple of months, the scammer typically drops into conversation that he has been making substantial money trading in crypto currency, and will offer an investment opportunity to the victim, saying though those investments are usually only open to very-high-net-worth individuals, an exception can be made in this case. The set-up behind the trap is quite elaborate, though inexpensive to make. Scammers register a website domain and create a functioning app and website. Victims are then requested to send money, usually a minimum of $1,000, via online bank transfer to an investment account which trades in crypto currency. “Once the money is transferred from the bank, it then registers on the website and the victims have access to enter their trades and see their portfolio as it makes earnings and losses,” said Templeman. The portfolios are said to often reflect staggering gains, prompting the victim to invest more money. Some take out loans to fund the investment and even convince family and friends to get involved. “But it is all fake,” Templeman said. “Once the money leaves the bank, it goes straight to the scammer’s digital wallets where it is then transferred to a professional money-laundering service. “The money is then mixed and muddled with other clean money, sometimes billions ‘Pig butchering’ scam claims Cayman victims A cautionary tale David Templeton, an investigator with the RCIPS’s Bureau of Financial Investigation, has written this scenario, using a fictional victim, as a cautionary tale of how people get conned in the notorious ‘pig butchering’ scam. When 42-year-old Davina Terry joined CaribbeanMatch.io (non-existent website), she was looking for love. And the sparks flew when she connected with ‘Jerry’ – a charismatic young man who shared her interests in dancing, sport, wine and sailing. The pair spoke often and developed a deep connection. Within a couple of weeks, they had moved their means of communication away from the dating platform and onto a popular message app. Jerry would message most mornings, telling Davina what he was up to, where he was travelling to and sending photos of the interesting things he was doing. He travelled often for business, but mostly for leisure pursuits and seeing friends, which was why the pair kept their chats to messages and photos. Davina opened up about her life, her career, her family and the recent devastating loss of her remaining parent. Jerry was kind, asked questions about the things that were important to Davina and remembered the things they had discussed previously. After a couple of months, just in passing, Jerry dropped into conversation PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11» PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10» cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 11-17 AUGUST 2023 5Second round of public consultations begins on 15 Aug. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Public consultation on Cayman’s long-awaited sexual harassment legislation will begin on Tuesday, 15 Aug., and the group that has pushed for the law for more than a decade is calling for community support to get it on the law books. “As the Bill moves into public consultation, we encourage every single member of the public to take it personally,” Mahreen Nabi, vice president on the Business and Professional Women’s Club, told the Cayman Compass. Premier Wayne Panton announced that over the next four weeks the second round of consultation on the draft bill will be held, starting with a public meeting at 6:30-7:30pm on 15 Aug. at the George Town Public Library. The community can participate in person or virtually. ‘High time’ Cayman joins regional counterparts Nabi said the club is pleased to see forward movement on the bill, which will finally provide a legal definition of sexual harassment for the Cayman Islands. “It is high time we get this in place and get on par with regional counterparts, like Jamaica who published their legislation in 2021,” Nabi said, adding that the legislation will provide unmatched empowerment for those who have experienced sexual harassment to take action against perpetrators, while removing any ambiguity around what defines it. Panton, in the statement, said he was pleased with the level of engagement and support received during the first round of public consultation on the bill. “It shows that our country expects the Government to address sexual harassment in a robust and well thought out way. Our Government recognises the scale and scope of this legislation and therefore felt it necessary to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to give feedback – particularly the business community who will be asked to ensure many of the provisions of the bill are upheld,” he said. Panton urged the public to acquaint themselves with the proposed bill. Nabi pointed out that, for over 15 years, the Business and Professional Women’s Club has advocated for this legislation. “We are hopeful that once it is in place, it will ensure that regardless of gender, age or orientation, all people who visit or reside on our islands will be formally protected against unwanted and unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature,” Nabi said. A Compass series in 2021 highlighted the need for the legislation. “Although an unpleasant thing to think about, statistics show over half of men and women experience some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime,” Nabi said. In March this year, a White Paper was issued, with public consultation open until 15 April. The government said that consultation resulted in “significant responses from over 300 individuals and organisations”. In its statement, it added that the aim of the public meetings is “to share some of the proposed changes to the White Paper based on the feedback received and to facilitate some additional public consultation on this very important bill of national concern”. Provisions of the law The bill states that it seeks to provide for the prevention of sexual harassment and the introduction of remedies in circumstances where a person makes a complaint. Although it does not apply to “street” or “public” harassment, it prohibits a person offering a service and/or goods to members of the public from sexually harassing a customer or client, a government statement said. 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. It provides that every employer shall formulate a policy statement concerning sexual harassment in the workplace and outline what that policy should include. The proposed law makes it an offence to victimise a person who has made a sexual harassment compliant, with a fine of $5,000 or imprisonment for one year or both. Under the proposed law, complaints may be made to the Gender Equality Tribunal in writing, setting out the details of the alleged sexual harassment. However, this is subject to the exhausting of any internal mechanisms and procedures that are made available to that person, as provided for in the sexual harassment policy statement in their place of employment/ institution/educational institution. A complaint must be made within 18 months from the date of the alleged act of sexual harassment and, in the case of a series of acts of sexual harassment, within 18 months from the date of the last alleged act of sexual harassment was committed, the law proposes. Sexual Harassment Bill moving forward • A definition, and examples of conduct and circumstances which would constitute sexual harassment. • A requirement for every employer, regardless of the size of the company, to formulate a policy statement. • A prohibition on employers and employees from committing acts of sexual harassment. • An outline of the employer and employee obligations and duty. • A provision for an employer to be subject to sexual harassment liability under certain circumstances. • A requirement on institutions to have a policy to protect employees, students, children, residents or clients. • A prohibition on sexual harassment in the provision of accommodations, goods, services or facilities, including landlord and tenant transactions. • A requirement for qualifying bodies, organisations, employment agencies, and professional and civic associations to have a sexual harassment policy. • A provision for 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. • A prohibition on victimisation of a person for making a complaint. • A provision for confidentiality and a limitation on publication of details pertaining to cases appearing before the tribunal. • A provision of a sample sexual harassment policy which an entity may adopt or modify as appropriate for use. “As the Bill moves into public consultation, we encourage every single member of the public to take it personally.” Mahreen Nabi, vice president, Business and Professional Women’s Club A series of public meetings will be held as part of the second round of public consultations on the Sexual Harassment Bill. - Photo: File The Sexual Harassment Bill contains: cayman compass 6 news N news WEEKLY, 11-17 AUGUST 2023RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Negotiators for Cayman’s long- awaited ReGen project have been given another extension – to 30 Sept. – to wrap up the financial close for the multi- million-dollar facility Premier Wayne Panton announced the change in deadlines on 4 Aug. as he said that negotiations between the government and the Dart-led consortium were “progressing steadily”. Panton noted that the project agreement signed in 2021 “contained dozens” of conditions that still needed to be negotiated and agreed upon. “Since that time, the joint project team has reduced the outstanding items down to a small number... remaining to be addressed by the new fi nancial close deadline. We are on a solid footing to conclude negotiations and move from the procurement phase of the project to the implementation and construction phase,” he said. The premier did not go into detail on the outstanding matters. However, Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart, responding to the change in deadline, said Panton must explain why the project has been repeatedly delayed. “Whenever the Premier does announce a fi nal contract signing, he must also answer for the serious challenges his delays have created for the country. In particular, he must account for every dollar of the considerable cost increase the country will face,” McTaggart said in a statement issued on 7 Aug. In addition to the new fi nancial close deadline of 30 Sept., the public-private partnership team recently agreed to a new project long-stop date of 30 Nov. Following the signing of the deal for the project by the Progressives government in March 2021, a fi nancial close deadline of 31 Oct. 2021 was set, but that was pushed to 2022. The cost of the project has also been in dispute. Former Finance Minister Chris Saunders claimed it would ultimately cost Cayman$2 billion, but Panton has said it is closer to$1.5 billion. Defending the lengthy negotiations, Panton said that refl ected both the complexity of the project and the team’s desire to ensure this deal represents value for money for the people of the Cayman Islands. “We know ‘doing nothing’ is not an option but we also know that, for ReGen to truly be the future of sustainable waste management in the Cayman Islands, it needs to be affordable now and in the long- term. These facilities represent a signifi cant investment in the future well-being of our country and, as with all major project decisions, we are taking our fi scal responsibility seriously,” he added. ‘Increased cost, increased risk’ However, McTaggart pointed out that if the contract is completed in September, “it will be some two years late, and as we expected, this delay has increased the cost and risk to the project”. He added, “The time is coming when the Premier can no longer dodge questions. He must come clean to the country and explain why the cost of this project has spiralled.” The government statement said that “Neither the Cayman Islands Government nor Dart are able to discuss specifics of the negotiations at this stage due to commercial sensitivities.” McTaggart said the project delays increase the risk that Cayman will run out of usable landfill space. “Had the contract been closed by the initially agreed deadline of September 2021, the space left at [George Town] landfill would have lasted for decades. The two- year delay means the country could run out of landfill space in the next few years, with the ReGen facilities still needing to be completed,” he said. Environmental statement The fi nancial modelling for the project was updated at the beginning of 2023, according to the government statement, adding that at this stage, costs are still being fi nalised. It added that there are two key fi gures associated with the project: The contract cost that would be payable to the Dart-led consortium; and the total, projected cost of all the components that make up the entire waste collection and management system over the 28-year life of the contract (three years of construction and 25 years of operation). Dart executive director Cameron Graham, commenting on the latest development of the project, said, “The Dart Consortium has continued to work diligently in partnership with the Government across all areas of the ReGen Project Agreement (PA) to ensure the Government has the information required to achieve fi nancial close by 30 September”. The “unique project,” he said, requires continual communication with partners, contractors and inter-government agencies “to ensure its successful development and it is reassuring that all parties have remained aligned throughout the protracted negotiation process”. “With a clear pathway to fi nancial close, we are excited to execute the PA and transition to the detailed design, construction and ultimately operation of ReGen that remains critically important infrastructure to the sustainable development of the Cayman Islands,” he added. Dart says it is making progress on the environmental impact assessment for the project, with public consultation on a draft EIA statement scheduled to launch this month. The draft EIA statement will be available on the ReGen and Department of Environment websites from 18 Aug., and hard copies of the document will be hosted in community spaces across all three islands from 18 Aug. Government moves ReGen deadline to September Public meetings on ReGen environmental statement: 28 Aug. 6-9pm at Harquail Theatre 29 Aug. 6-9pm at John Gray Memorial Church Hall 30 Aug. 6-9pm at Mary Miller Hall, Red Bay Primary School McTaggart: Premier must ‘come clean’ on delays cayman compass 7 news N news WEEKLY, 11 17 AUGUST 2023Important Notice Scotiabank & Trust (Cayman) Ltd. wishes to advise that due to the announcement by the Federal Reserve to increase the federal funds rate by 0.25% on July 26, 2023, the following changes will occur: All products linked to USD and KYD Prime Rates will be adjusted on the effective dates indicated. USD Prime Rate increase from 8.25% to 8.50%, effective August 28, 2023 KYD Prime Rate increase from 8.25% to 8.50%, effective August 28, 2023 RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Nearly seven years after West Bay father-of-one Justin Dilly Manderson was killed, a man allegedly connected to his murder has been arrested by police. Manderson’s killing was one of the first cases to be featured in the Compass Cold Case Files series, which was done in partnership with the RCIPS Serious Crime Review team between 2021 and this year. Police, in a statement to the Compass on 4 Aug., said officers arrested a 28-year-old-man from West Bay on Thursday in relation to Manderson’s 1 Oct. 2016 shooting. The West Bay man was arrested on suspicion of accessory after the fact of murder. “This matter has been open and active for the past 7 years and was featured in a cold case series on the Cayman Compass back in June 2021,” police said in the statement. Police said the suspect “is believed to have misled the police throughout the course of the investigation, where then 24-year- old Justin Manderson was shot at the front of a shopping plaza located on West Bay Road”. The suspect has since been bailed pending further investigations. The RCIPS team, which was headed by then Detective Sergeant Peter Dean, was first established by Police Commissioner Derek Byrne with the specific aim of getting to the root of unsolved cases in the Cayman Islands. The team has been poring over volumes of files not only in the Manderson murder, which was code-named Operation Iraq, but other unsolved cases in a bid to bring closure for relatives of those killed. Killed on the sidewalk Manderson, 24, was gunned down on the sidewalk on West Bay Road near Seven Mile Shops on 1 Oct. 2016. Information on the case, which was profiled in the Compass series, said Manderson was confronted by his would-be killer inside what was then called Nectar nightclub. Dean, in a 2021 interview about the investigation, said Manderson was at the nightclub with friends and, at some stage during the night, he became afraid for his life. “Not too long before he was shot, he was so concerned that he actually did phone 911 and complained that he had been threatened and he gave some information regarding the people who he was saying was threatening him. He subsequently left,” Dean said. While walking along the entrance to Seven Mile Shops, Dean said, Manderson’s killer approached and shot him. Manderson was known to police and had been charged with the January 2015 murder of Victor Oliver Yates in West Bay, but that case was dropped ahead of a planned trial. However, Dean and his team insisted that while Manderson had been a “person of interest” for police, that does not mean his killing should be allowed to go unsolved. Anyone with information on Justin Manderson’s murder or any of the Cold Cases featured by the Compass can call the Serious Crime Review Team confidential tip line at 649-2930. Anonymous tips can be pro- vided directly to the RCIPS via the police confidential tip line at 949-7777, or via the police web- site. Tips can also be submitted anonymously via Cayman Crime Stoppers, which offers up to a $50,000 reward for tips which lead to an arrest and charges for gun-related crimes. Arrest in murder featured in Compass Cold Case series Major Incident Room and Serious Crime Review Team, from left, Detective Constable Russell These, Detective Constable Samantha Sillitoe, Detective Constable Alan Sherwin, Superintendent Peter Lansdown, Intelligence Analyst Joanne Delaney, retired Detective Sergeant Peter Dean and Detective Constable Mike Lewis. – Photo: Alvaro Serey Justin Manderson, with his young son. - Photo: File cayman compass 8 WEEKLY, 11-17 AUGUST 2023 news N newsREBECCA BIRD rbird@compassmedia.ky For the fi rst time, the government has hosted an online-only forum to give the public the opportunity to learn about the draft National Energy Policy 2023-2050 and give feedback. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said residents have been critical of the government and the civil service in the past for not allowing them the chance to voice their opinions. “We have listened and we are doing things differently to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to comment and to provide feedback on this very important initiative,” he said. Cayman’s climate, sustainability and energy chiefs gathered for the hour-long live online broadcast on Wednesday, 9 Aug. It included presentations and a panel discussion, and members of the public were allowed to ask questions before and during the event. Manderson said successful policy achieves what it is set out to do, has the support of the key stakeholders, and has “broad reaching buy-in across each sector of our community”. “These are all reasons why public consultation is so critical to the policy development,” the deputy governor told those watching the broadcast. “Your input helps us better defi ne the challenges we are trying to solve, helps us become aware of our blind spots and avoid unintended pitfalls. “And helps us determine the matrix of success, not just from a facts-and-fi gures perspective, but from the real impacts on you and your family. “As a democracy, that is our civic duty. Our governance framework gives us a voice. It’s up to each of us to use it.” Public input is ‘invaluable’ Manderson said the responsibility of civil service policymakers is to engage in dialogue, to listen to questions and concerns, and be transparent on how that is used to refi ne policies. “That’s our commitment as part of our purpose to make the lives of those we serve better,” he said. The deputy governor added that the government will take advantage of every opportunity to gather feedback on government policy, bills and initiatives. “Your input is an invaluable part of the process,” he told those watching. “We simply cannot do this without you.” He urged any policymakers tuned in to ensure they are not building policies in a vacuum. “We have to continue to be collaborative and ensure cross agency alignment whenever possible,” he said. Event host Jennifer Ahearn, chief offi cer in the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, agreed that public consultation is “an essential part of the democratic process”. But it can be overwhelming, she said, especially as the government currently has other public consultations taking place. “We know that your time is valuable and that you have a lot of different priorities demanding your attention,” Ahearn said. “And that’s why the [ministry] is testing this new digital town hall format as a way of ensuring that everyone in our community can access this information on demand.” James Whittaker, chairman of the Energy Policy Council, gave an overview of key recommendations from the review and how they were implemented into the draft policy. Also speaking were Premier Wayne Panton, who also heads up the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, and Richard Hew, president and CEO of Caribbean Utilities Company. Those interested in the event were given the option to tune in live on YouTube or on the government’s social media channels, or watch the recording at a later date. REBECCA BIRD rbird@compassmedia.ky Cayman must shift away from its reliance on “expensive polluting fossil fuels” and move to reliable, clean, affordable renewable energy, Premier Wayne Panton says. Panton, who is also minister for sustainability and climate resiliency, was speaking during the government’s virtual forum on the draft National Energy Policy 2023-2050 on 9 Aug. Cayman’s climate, sustainability and energy chiefs gathered for the hour-long live online broadcast, which included presentations, a panel discussion and questions from the public. During his opening speech, Panton reminded that the former National Energy Policy 2017-2037 contained the requirement for reviews every fi ve years. This was to make sure goals, strategies and implementation plans stay up to date as progress is made, and allow for adjustments if targets are not met, the premier explained. The new policy contains the results of the fi rst fi ve-year review, and the dates have been changed to 2023-2050 to align with newly proposed targets. “While a great deal has been achieved over the last fi ve years, perhaps more so than some of us realise, we know beyond a doubt that we need to pick up the pace,” Panton said. “We absolutely need to make more progress on this, and especially now that energy is a very specifi c issue that is at the forefront of people’s minds.” Cost of living The premier said the public is obviously concerned about cost of living, with rising temperatures leading to rising utility costs. “It is absolutely getting more and more expensive to keep our homes cool, to keep the lights on and keep our appliances running,” he added. Panton said that over the past year-and- a-half, the government has tried to address the mounting cost of living through various relief programmes. But he added that short-term interventions must be combined with medium- and long-term initiatives to enhance energy security, increase climate resiliency and provide clean, affordable power. “We have to shift away from a reliance on expensive polluting fossil fuels to reliable, clean, affordable renewable energy,” he said. “Our three islands in the sun, with our soft fresh breezes, are blessed with an abundance of potential natural resources to tap into and convert to clean energy.” Ambitious targets The premier spoke of the policy’s major new goals of 100% renewable energy and 100% greenhouse gas emission reductions from electricity supply by 2050. Other goals include all new light, medium and heavy-duty vehicle sales to come from electric vehicles and a 90% reduction in emissions from ground transport by 2050. “I know that these are ambitious targets, but they are critically important to our energy security, maintaining a reasonable cost of living, and improving our environment,” he said. Panton said that when he looks ahead 27 years from now to the year 2050, he knows what he wants to see. “I want to see a Cayman Islands which isn’t continuously at the mercy of volatility in international energy markets or fuel markets,” he said. “A Cayman that has gone from being one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gases in the Caribbean to one of the most sustainable countries in the world.” The draft policy can be read and reviewed at www.gov.ky/ nationalenergypolicy. Feedback can be sent via email or in a survey before 31 Aug. Jennifer Ahearn, chief offi cer in the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, hosts a discussion panel at the virtual forum. - Photo: Screengrab from Cayman Islands government's YouTube channel Premier hopes to rid Cayman of ‘expensive, polluting fossil fuels’ Government touts virtual forum as platform for public opinion Cayman currently relies primarily on diesel-powered generators – a key driver of CO2 emissions – for its electricity. - Photo: File ‘expensive, polluting fossil fuels’ cayman compass 9 news N news WEEKLY, 11 17 AUGUST 2023Next >