2pc $3 85 4pc $6 95 cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 12-18 January 2024 Fresh call for new courthouse Page 3 Forever home for dog after 4 years in shelter Page 5 Lacee continues Larner's legacy Page 24 Homeless prisoners Locked up with nowhere to go Paages 18-19 continues Larner's 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 Partly cloudy with morning isolated showers SEA STATE Moderate with a wave height of 3 to 5 feet. WINDS Southeast at 10 to 15 knots. 87°F HIGH 75°F LOW NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCHGILLIES news in brief Man injured in George Town drive- by shooting Investigations are continuing into a drive-by shooting in George Town in which a man suffered a leg wound. The incident happened on Hawkins Drive in Windsor Park on Tuesday, 9 Jan. and was reported to police just before 7pm, according to a police press release. According to the report, multiple shots were fi red from one moving vehicle to another that was parked in front of a home. The injured man was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle before the offi cers arrived. He was treated for what police described as “serious but non-life- threatening injuries” and later discharged. No other injuries were reported as a result of the incident, police said. Offi cers searched the area, but they did not fi nd the vehicle that the shooter used. Gunshots fi red into Bodden Town home in middle of night Gunshots were fi red at a home in Bodden Town in the early hours of Wednesday, 10 Jan., with two bullets entering a bedroom through the window. Responding to a 1:30am report of the incident in Lower Valley, offi cers who arrived at the scene were told that at about 1am, a noise that sounded like a gunshot woke the male occupant of the home. When he looked round the bedroom in which he had been sleeping, he found a bullet hole in the wall and the ceiling. No one was injured during the shooting. ‘Surprise’ port-fees increase comes under fi re Government’s introduction of new port fees for cargo, the highest bump of which impacts the importation of vehicles, has been met with a warning that it will bring more cost-of-living strain for consumers. Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart, in a statement on the increases on 7 Jan., described the rise in fees as a “surprise”, saying its introduction “will worsen the cost-of-living crisis”. “This unexpected increase comes on top of the Premier’s $120 million list of tax increases announced during the recent December budget session,” he said. The new fees, which took effect on 1 Jan., were not publicised, but instead gazetted as amended port regulations. Under the new fee structure, cargo dues for imported vehicles will be calculated at fl at rates, which is a new provision. “These Port Fee increases will undoubtedly impact the cost of living, as will other increases the Premier and her Government are planning,” McTaggart said. The new rates for a vehicle weighing less than six tons will now be $300, and for a vehicle weighing six tons or more a fee of $500 will be applied. Other increases in the port dues include a bump in the charge for trucking cargo from ship-side to the distribution centre in Industrial Park. Globe Bar double-murder trial delayed again The murder trial of a man accused of killing two people in a shooting at the Globe Bar in 2021 has been delayed again. Wayne Bellafonte Jr.’s trial, which was scheduled to begin on 23 Jan., has been put off until March – and possibly to May – while defence experts prepare reports on DNA and gunshot- residue samples. Bellafonte faces two counts of murder in relation to the deaths of Mark Andre Ebanks, 36, and Eldon Walton, 55, who were shot on 1 July 2021 outside the then Globe Bar on Martin Drive. At a Grand Court hearing on Tuesday, 9 Jan., Justice Cheryll Richards agreed with defence attorney Ben Tonner’s request to postpone the trial until the reports from the experts had been received and considered by lawyers. “In view of Mr. Bellafonte’s not guilty plea, we have clear instructions… to instruct the expert in the case to do a thorough review of the Crown’s forensic material, and if appropriate, in due course, mount a robust challenge to, in particular, DNA and gunshot-residue evidence.” Richards set a date of 11 March, with a back-up date of 7 May, as trials in which lawyers in the case are involved may not be completed by the March date. Bellafonte’s trial is expected to last three weeks, the court heard. Bellafonte appeared at the hearing via video link from Northward Prison where he is remanded. Student fundraises with ‘fl amingo-ade’ for National Trust Cayman student Jackson Shambaugh has been lauded for his efforts to raise funds for the National Trust. The 10-year-old student has been hit with fl amingo fever, like many in the community, so he set up a stand selling pink lemonade by Malportas Pond to fundraise for the Trust. Jackson, of South Sound, with a helping hand from mom Melanie and dad J.R., pitched his fi rst lemonade stand near the North Side pond, where visitors have been fl ocking to see the special visitor that has taken up residence at the nature reserve. On Friday, Jackson, who attends Montessori by the Sea, delivered $51 in cash to the Cayman Islands National Trust for its Land Reserve Fund. He told the Compass, “At fi rst I was skeptical [to donate it all] but then I realised they need it more than me. I’ve got a lot and they’re trying to save some birds, so that’s good.” Jackson has been enthralled with the visiting fl amingo, which was fi rst spotted at the pond over the Christmas holidays, and said he wanted to help protect the birds. Brac Museum’s 40th anniversary celebrations The Cayman Brac Museum will mark its 40th anniversary with a day of celebrations and will feature the unveiling of a new artefact on Saturday, 13 Jan., from 10:30pm until 2pm at the Cayman Brac Museum in Stake Bay and District Administration Lawn. Mark Tibbetts, district commissioner for the Sister Islands, told the Compass he’s proud that the museum offers many displays of history and enables many to be reminded of the island’s culture and heritage. In addition to the new exhibit, the family-oriented celebrations will include live music, storytelling, games, demonstrations, prizes, food and more. Cayman student Jackson Shambaugh, like many in the community, has been hit with fl amingo fever and has set up a ‘fl amingo-ade’ stall to sell pink lemonade to raise funds for the National Trust. - Photo: Supplied cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 12 18 JANUARY 2024NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale, echoing her predecessor’s annual and oft-repeated appeal, is asking government to provide funding for a new courthouse, as she listed a litany of shortcomings in the existing court buildings. At the official Grand Court opening on Wednesday, 10 Jan., she pointed out that the jury room could only comfortably accommodate eight jurors, that the lawyers’ robing room is now in the judges’ former library, and the courtroom used for complex international financial cases is outdated. The former chief justice, Sir Anthony Smellie, whom Ramsay-Hale replaced in October 2022 following his retirement, was present at the official opening in his new capacity as a Court of Appeal justice. “New chief, old speech,” Ramsay-Hale said, as she made a direct appeal for a new courthouse to legislators, including Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who were sitting in court as invited guests. Not a ‘single dollar’ for courthouse in government budget The chief justice pointed out that government’s latest budget had included large quantities of money for capital projects, but a new courthouse was not among them. In its budget released in December, the United People’s Movement government announced it planned to spend $1.2 billion on infrastructure projects. Prefacing that she did not want to “trespass” on the legislature’s domain, she said, “I have to note there was an ambitious capital projects plan expounded, which did not include a single dollar for the modernisation of the judiciary through the provision of a modern, technologically- enabled court.” Acknowledging that the “court campus” now has three buildings – the main courthouse, Kirk House and the former Scotiabank building on Cardinall Avenue – she said, “They are still not enough to meet our needs.” She noted the difficulties that had been encountered in retrofitting a bank building into a workable courthouse. She told the lawmakers that none of these buildings is appropriate for a “modernised, technology-supported judiciary”. Describing the shortcomings of the Financial Services Division court, which last year dealt with 414 financial services-related civil cases, Ramsay-Hale painted a picture of facilities that were outdated and not quite fit for purpose in the modern age. “We say we are a premier financial services jurisdiction, and we are, but I should take you on a tour of the premises so you can see where 2,000 lawyers attend our courts, with their $15 billion clients. “And it is only because we have such excellence on the bench, that the meanness of our facilities hasn’t played against us. If you were to see the courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre… these are our competitors, you would have to come back home and say that at the [Cayman Islands Financial Services Division], we should at least have courts that are modern and technologically enabled.” She pointed out that, for example, in a current case in the Financial Services Division court, involving 40 to 50 lawyers, “all the equipment, apart from the screens on the walls and a few microphones, have been provided by the Bar”, rather than being standard issue in the courthouse. Challenges for juries The courtrooms in which criminal matters are dealt with also need to be technologically enabled, she said. “I wish I had something to demonstrate what the jury goes through,” she told the assembled politicians, judges, magistrates, lawyers, clerks and other court staff in a packed Courtroom 1. She described how jurors are having to balance two or three large bundles of court documents “on their laps”. “Can you imagine jurors sitting in the jurors’ box, balancing bundles on their legs, trying to follow complex fraud trials, or worse, a murder trial where the court is relying on telephone records and photographs. All of these records are being put on screen, and you’re sat there in the jury box and they’re inviting you to look at that screen and make out the fine writing,” she said, pointing to a television screen mounted on the courtroom wall. In most modern courtrooms, she said, “every juror has a screen”. Ramsay-Hale noted that under modern evidence management systems, every document to be relied on in court can be put on the jurors’ individual screens. “This is not science fiction,” she insisted, saying such systems have been around for at least a decade. But she said, “We cannot introduce any more innovation in terms of software and technology because these courts are almost impossible to retrofit. Where would I put a monitor for these jurors? The jurors love to take notes. Cayman jurors love to take notes of everything… We have to prepare for the fact that, even if we have screens, I cannot retrofit this jury box.” Moving parts Last year, there were 104 new indictments before the Grand Court, and 928 cases were initiated in Summary Court, while more than 1,000 cases were sent to Traffic Court. Overall, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions filed approximately 4,200 charges. In 2022, 102 indictments were filed in the Grand Court and 872 in Summary Court. ‘New chief, old speech’: Ramsay-Hale calls for new courthouse Judges and staff of the Grand Court at the 10 Jan. opening. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay The Law Courts (former Scotiabank building) on Cardinall Avenue is the only building with a courtroom large enough to hold complex Financial Services Division cases. - Photo: Norma Connolly PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6» cayman compass 3 news N news WEEKLY, 12-18 JANUARY 20241234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Expedient (7) 5 Try to attain (2,3) 8 High degree of skill (9) 9 Impudence (3) 10 Hard persistent work (4) 12 Use roughly (8) 14 Innumerable (6) 15 Receiving attention (2,4) 17 Persuasive flattery (4,4) 18 To cold-shoulder (4) 21 Statute (3) 22 Gained by illegal means (3-6) 24 Slightly drunk (5) 25 Bondage (7) DOWN 1 To iron (5) 2 A circuit of racetrack (3) 3 Grow weary (4) 4 Culmination (6) 5 Salutation (8) 6 Misleadingly hopeful sign (5,4) 7 Supposed to be such (7) 11 At odds (3,2,4) 13 Assign to a category (8) 14 Parvenu (7) 16 Italian city (6) 19 Bow-legged (5) 20 Infinitesimal amount (4) 23 Moral obligation (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17525 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 17525 ACROSS: 1 Politic, 5 Go for, 8 Expertise, 9 Lip, 10 Slog, 12 Maltreat, 14 Untold, 15 In hand, 17 Soft soap, 18 Snub, 21 Act, 22 Ill-gotten, 24 Tipsy, 25 Slavery. DOWN: 1 Press, 2 Lap, 3 Tire, 4 Climax, 5 Greeting, 6 False dawn, 7 Reputed, 11 Out of step, 13 Classify, 14 Upstart, 16 Naples, 19 Bandy, 20 Iota, 23 Tie. What they’re saying Online Letters to the editor Celebrity chef Tony Biggs, second from left, with fellow chefs at this year’s Cayman Cookout. The 2024 event marks the 15th anniversary of the food-and-drink festival. Biggs, who will be presenting a ‘Prime Cuts and Craftsmanship Masterclass’ lunch at the event, joins a who’s who of international, as well as Cayman-based, culinary talent. For a related story on Caymanian chef, Diego Smith, who will be showing off his culinary skills at the Cookout, go to page 20. - Photo: Henri Morineau Pointing the way pic of the week It’s wonderful to see all the new developments coming to Grand Cayman! Grand Harbour, Newlands, Camana Bay, West Bay and Seven Mile Beach developments have been greenlighted by the Central Planning Authority. Now Cayman Brac and Little Cayman should also have new developments greenlighted by Planning. ‘The Lesser Islands’ truly aren’t lesser! Nan Socolow Cheering on new developments Postal Service working to lose sluggish reputation It’s shockingly slow and needs an overhaul - I’m still waiting for cards which I will probably receive at Easter. Liz Houghton Owners to donate historic West Bay house to National Trust I am so happy and grateful to see this! After all the changes the island has experienced, this is an amazing gift! Thank you! Ginny Hulse-Krumsiek Thank you! People with respect, guts, spine and common sense. Roland Talanow I really hope that it can be saved and restored in some fashion. However, from the Compass article description, it sounds like structurally it’s in a really poor condition and will need a lot of work done. Anita Ebanks The most cost-effective way to do this would be to reclaim the good wood and what can be reused, then replicate the look and feel of the old structure while also using parts of the original. This is done in the automotive industry all the time with collector cars and also with historical buildings.. Justin Harrison I would like to know how they propose to relocate this fragile home without it completely crumbling. Heartbreaking that Boggy Sand Road will lose such an iconic, historic structure in the area. fancyfrenchies345 Should 100% be preserved, we’re losing so many aspects of traditional Caymanian culture. Our culture needs to be taught to our children to carry on. Also, culture is one of the many reasons tourists come here. If we lose that, we lose a big part of what makes Cayman special. hayden.345 Planning board calls conservation-related approval process a ‘circus’ I own seven weeks at Morritt’s and love it there. They still should have to follow the setback rules that are in place. They already have two properties on the grounds that are too close and you can see the damage. Chris M. Getting the balance right means following the three Ps: People, Planet and Profit. In 2022, the Central Planning Authority got a 700% pay increase payable for each meeting they conduct, which, for weekly meetings if everyone attends, works out at $10,000 per month for the entire board. Rather than the CPA being unsure of how to proceed under the National Conservation Act, has the planning authority considered having an environmental advisor on staff that consults with the DOE when applications are received, to help review applications before they go to the CPA? I’m sure developers won’t mind paying additional fees to get the process moving more efficiently as long as there are protocols and transparency in place. Melanie Carmichael Girlguiding Cayman’s future uncertain as UK extends closure notice- That’s a really poor decision on the UK’s part. Girl Guiding and Scouts are an amazing group for young people. I hope they change their mind. Sharon Davies It sounds like Girl Scouts in the US. Maybe Cayman can connect with them if England is ending ties. Bruce L. Cayman Airways flight grounded due to ‘minor defect’ on windshield If everyone was doing their jobs, there wouldn’t be any mistakes. sir_clarke Cayman Airways are always on top of their airplane inspections! jenyfromthebrac It is commendable that through diligent routine inspections, a potential fault was identified, thereby allowing for preventative measures to be taken. This kind of proactive approach is vital in maintaining high safety standards in aviation and ensuring the wellbeing of passengers and crew. brian_masona Thank you, Cayman Airways, for your prompt investigation and response. rashanahydes cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 12-18 JANUARY 2024WEEKLY, 12-18 JANUARY 2024JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky A dog that has spent 1,369 days, almost four years, in the Humane Society shelter has finally found a ‘forever home’ after being adopted this week. Chico was the longest resident at the George Town shelter and, despite his sweet personality, had struggled to find an owner willing to take him on, until Eleanor Reed walked into the George Town facility. “When I brought him home, I really expected he would have all kinds of issues, because ‘why else has he been in there so long?’ but he is the sweetest, most loving dog in the world,” she said. “I bought him a big bag of toys and let him rip around the house. He’s completely taken over the bed.” After such a long stay in the shelter, Chico is making up for lost time. “He loves the beach. I have been taking him three or four times a week. He just seems delighted to be around people.” Reed, who moved to Cayman 18 months ago, says she gravitated towards Chico because of the length of time he had been looking for a home. She is used to big dogs so his bulk, intimidating for some potential owners, was not a problem. Samantha Cooper, operations manager for the Humane Society, said the shelter always tries to give extra exposure to its longest-staying residents. “The puppies are always the easiest to get adopted, but the longer they have been here, the harder it becomes.” Chico arrived at the shelter as a 3-year-old, surrendered by his owners. He had bad skin and was a ‘bit smelly’ – the result of a food allergy that was not identified until later. “It is sad that he has been in here so long because he is a very good dog. He looks like a big tough guy but he is actually a softie,” she said. “We will miss him but we are so happy he has found a nice home.” Chico only recently became the longest Humane Society resident after Adele – who was surrendered as a 6-month-old and spent more than seven years in the shelter – was adopted in September. Cooper admits shelter staff try to give their long-time residents a little more VIP treatment and boost their social media posts in an effort to find them a home. Volunteers try to prioritise them for extra walks and weekend fosters. But some come to view the shelter as home. “We had one dog escape and he came right back and sat at the back door,” she said. Despite the efforts of the shelter staff and its volunteers, the facility remains overcrowded and, with so many dogs and cats to take care of, it’s hard to give them all the attention they need. With Adele and Chico now enjoying their freedom, the next priority is finding a home for Bobo, who has been in the shelter for three years and six months after being found abandoned as a 2-year-old. “He is a very large dog who needs someone experienced with dogs and preferably someone who has a large yard,” she said. If you can adopt Bobo or are interested in adopting any of the animals from the Humane Society, call 949-1461 or check www.caymanhumane.org. Dog finds forever home after 4 years in shelter 1,369 The number of days Chico spent at the Humane Society shelter "He looks like a big tough guy but he is actually a softie.” Samantha Cooper, operations manager, Cayman Islands Humane Society Eleanor Reed adopted Chico, who had spent almost four years at the Humane Society shelter. - Photos: Supplied cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 12-18 JANUARY 2024 5 Chico is making himself at home.cayman rst.com Get started Track your motor insurance claim anytime, anyplace. Ramsay-Hale described a Tetris-like shifting of rooms and courts within the existing buildings over the past year, to make room for hearing the growing number of cases the courts are dealing with. The courthouse had been lacking ‘witness care rooms’, where vulnerable witnesses can wait before giving evidence. It was while carrying out a walkthrough of the courthouse to find a suitable place to put a witness care room that she realised, she said, that the jury room table could only accommodate eight people. To find a bigger room for jurors, she said, she turned the lawyers’ robing room into a jury room – one that still is not big enough to comfortably fit 12 jurors, however. As a result, the lawyers are now robing in the old library, which is within the judges’ area of the courthouse, and where normally lawyers would not have access. To create a witness care room, she had to displace the court reporters. “Where are they going to go?” she asked. “The court reporters report in these courts. They can’t be too far away. Should I hire them premises down the road? Should I send them across to Cardinall Avenue? How much can this building achieve?” Meanwhile, the Summary Court has been displaced from Court 2 in the main courthouse, as that is the only court building with custody facilities, so cases involving remanded defendants in criminal prosecutions can only be held there. “As I said, ‘new chief, old speech’. I cannot stress enough that we need new court facilities,” Ramsay-Hale stated. But she added, “We will continue to make do,” recalling holding court in an airport hangar following Hurricane Ivan. “We are prepared to sacrifice, but should we be asked to?” she said. “And what about the people who are not paid to judge, like our jurors, what about the litigants who come here seeking our assistance? Should they be subject to conditions which are not only unpleasant but, in fact, unsuitable for the purposes for which they have come to this court?” She added, “I make this public plea for consideration to be given to the establishment in the budget of capital projects for a new courthouse.” NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky In some changes to the court system, Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale has announced that the Grand Court will now sit in three separate terms each year, with ‘vacations’ in between, and that justices of the peace will preside over Traffic Court cases from later this year. Currently, the court sits for one year-long term, which begins in January each year. Ramsay-Hale, at the official opening of Grand Court on Wednesday, 10 Jan., said the court was “bringing back vacations”. The introduction of terms and vacations at court was “critical for many reasons”, the chief justice stated. One simple and practical reason is that the roof of the courthouse needs repair, and that work cannot be done while courts are in session, she said. Another reason, she explained, is that the “registries are bowing under the pressure of work. They need to stop, so they can regroup.” And she added, “Finally, the judges are tired, especially the judges who sit in crime [cases] all year long. In England, they’ve done studies that show that judges who sit in violent crime [cases] sometimes develop PTSD (post- traumatic stress disorder). I’m pleased to report we don’t have that problem, but there is no reason why we should drive our judges to exhaustion.” The breaks between sittings will allow judges to write judgments, and allow for training of staff and judges “without disruption to the court business”, the chief justice said. The amended Grand Court Rules have been gazetted and came into effect on 10 Jan. The Grand Court’s spring sitting will be from 4 Jan., or the first working day immediately thereafter, until the Wednesday before Easter Sunday. The summer sitting will be from the second Tuesday after Easter Sunday until 31 July, or the last working day thereafter. The winter sitting will begin on the third Tuesday of September, and end on 22 Dec. or the last working day thereafter. Earlier in her speech to the court staff and officials who had gathered for the court opening, the chief justice had addressed the Grand Court’s disposal of criminal cases. Last year, there were 104 new indictments before that court, which disposed of 119 cases throughout the year. “That is a clearance rate of 114%,” Ramsay-Hale said. That involved disposing of cases that were already before the court, as well as new ones introduced in 2023. The clearance rate in 2022 was 102%. The chief justice explained that the court aims for a 100% clearance rate, to prevent a backlog. JPs to ease magistrates’ case loads Addressing the introduction of justices of the peace to the Summary Court, over which magistrates currently preside, Ramsay-Hale said, “We are well on the way”, as she indicated several JPs in a pilot group sitting in court at Wednesday’s Grand Court Opening ceremony. The JPs have been undergoing training, including familiarisation with the court and its processes, and there are plans for them to partake in mock trials, she said. Magistrates have “devoted a lot of time mentoring the JPs”, the chief justice said. Their training will continue throughout the first half of this year. “In 2024, justices of the peace, sitting in the Summary Court, will become a reality,” Ramsay-Hale stated. “They will be deployed in the Traffic Court, which will relieve the magistrates of a significant amount of their current case load.” Director of Public Prosecutions Simon Davis, in his delivery of some statistics from his office on Wednesday, said that, in 2023, more than 1,000 cases had been referred to Traffic Court. The addition of JPs to the Summary Court roster means additional court space will be needed, the chief justice noted, because on some days, the court would deal with 100 to 120 people. “This cannot be accommodated in the courts that we have, apart from Court 5, when the Financial Services Division is not sitting.” Court to take vacations by sitting 3 times a year ‘New chief, old speech’: Ramsay-Hale calls for new courthouse CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale, back row, centre, with fellow Grand Court judges on 10 Jan. - Photo: Norma Connolly cayman compass 6 news N news WEEKLY, 12-18 JANUARY 2024REBECCA BIRD rbird@compassmedia.ky Last year, Grand Cayman recorded its hottest day since records began, when temperatures peaked at 95.5 degrees Fahrenheit (35.3 degrees Celsius) on 21 July. And throughout the year, residents sweltered as all monthly temperatures were above the 30-year average. The Cayman Islands National Weather Service released its statistics for 2023 on 8 Jan. The average temperature for the year was 84°F (28.9°C), with the lowest temperature recorded on 17 Jan. at 66.6°F (19.2°C). The average humidity was 73%, average winds came from the east at eight knots, there were 142 days of rain and 55 days with thunderstorms. The rainiest month of the year was August when rainfall reached 12.1 inches (307 millimetres) and the rainiest day was 22 Aug. with a rainfall of 2.89 inches (73.5mm). The total rainfall for the year was 49.5 inches (1,256mm). During the wet/ hurricane season of May to November, the total rainfall was 38.5 inches (978mm) or 78% of the year’s total. Although regional forecasters said 2023 was the fourth most active El Niño Atlantic hurricane season on record, Cayman was not hit by any tropical cyclones. The data is recorded at Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman and bulletins are sent out every month. The December climate bulletin predicts that in the three months from December 2023 to February 2024 there are expected to be between 10 and 23 wet days. There is also a 70% chance the minimum, average and maximum temperatures will be above average. REBECCA BIRD rbird@compassmedia.ky The Central Planning Authority has refused permission to the owners of The Watermark to rezone 16 acres of land along West Bay Road to allow for new high-rise buildings. The developers requested an amendment to Development Plan 1997 to change four parcels near Seven Mile Public Beach from ‘neighbourhood commercial’ to ‘hotel/tourism’. In a letter to the authority, they said the amendment would allow for an increase from the currently allowed three storeys to a “greater density” of commercial and residential units. As a result, it would create “a more moderately priced product that can be offered to a wider cross section of the population in this premium area”, the applicants wrote. But despite having a similar request for the rezoning of land granted in 2022, planning chiefs said they did not support the latest proposal and it was dismissed. Building up In August 2018, planning permission was granted for the construction of The Watermark – a $177 million, 10-storey luxury apartment building with 54 units on Seven Mile Beach. A pedestrian bridge over West Bay Road links the block, which is nearing completion six years later, to a three-storey building with a restaurant, spa and guest suites. In 2020, the developers applied to the Central Planning Authority for the legal rezoning of three parcels next to the Watermark construction site, which would allow builds of up to 10 storeys. The required law change went to public consultation and no objections were received, so the authority in 2021 sent the proposal to the Planning Ministry. An amendment to the Development Plan 1997 was passed in Parliament on 10 Oct. 2022. The landowners made a similar request again this year – this time for a 16-acre portion of four land parcels, which total 19 acres. The low-lying, undeveloped land is near the roundabout joining West Bay Road to Esterley Tibbetts Highway, and less than 600 feet from the coastline. Focus on tourists In the Department of Planning’s analysis, it explained that if granted, the change in zoning would represent an increase of 2.07% to the 783.1 acres of ‘hotel/ tourism’ in West Bay. Meanwhile, it would represent a loss of 11.4% of the existing ‘neighbourhood commercial’ zones, which currently amounts to only 141.9 acres. It said the shift in zoning would move use away from the needs of local residents and towards accommodating tourists. Rezoning could also require huge changes in infrastructure and utilities, as well as have implications for traffi c and transportation, the department said. It also expressed concerns about a change to the overall character and aesthetics of the community, and the potential impact of increasing building heights to 10 storeys. The applicants, in their proposal, said developing the parcels with the current limitations is not economically feasible given the cost of land, essential infrastructure and construction. “For Caymanians to achieve greater participation in the acquisition of property in this area, product must be at a lower price point than currently exists,” they added. “The only way to achieve that is to create additional density through a zoning designation that already exists. “The ‘hotel/tourism’ zone is the appropriate zone as adjacent parcels currently have this designation.” During its 6 Dec. 2023 meeting, the authority reviewed the proposal and determined that it did not support it, according to minutes published on 4 Jan. 2024. Watermark developers’ high-rise vision for West Bay Road quashed “The only way to achieve [lower priced properties] is to create additional density through a zoning designation that already exists.” Planning applicant Grand Cayman’s highest-ever temperature recorded in 2023 The average temperature for the year was 84°F (28.9°C), with the lowest temperature recorded on 17 Jan. at 66.6°F (19.2°C). Peak temperature for the year 95.5° FAHRENHEIT cayman compass 7 news N news WEEKLY, 12 18 JANUARY 2024RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky National Housing Development Trust General Manager Julio Ramos has resigned after 14 years at the helm of the embattled state entity, a statement late Friday afternoon has confirmed. No reason was given for Ramos’ resignation, which took place last month. Andrew McBean, chairman of the Trust’s board of directors, said in the statement that Ramos’ term comes to a close at the end of January. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Ramos for his knowledge and technical assistance over the past year during which we started the process of innovating and evolving, for his ongoing assistance with the current transition projected up to the end of his term later this month and for his dedicated service over the past 14 years. His legacy is a loyal and dedicated team of staff members, committed to helping to deliver on our plans for the future,” McBean said. Decision came after ‘careful thought and consideration’ In the statement, Ramos said that, after “careful thought and consideration and providing approximately 14 years to the National Housing Development Trust”, he decided to move on to pursue “other personal aspirations”. He acknowledged that the notice of his departure “may have come as a surprise to some”, however, he said he has been assisting with the required transition exercise “for the continued efficiency and delivery of service to the deserving Caymanians who require housing assistance and opportunities”. He added, “This was a difficult decision to make as I cherish my time at the NHDT and have enjoyed my working relationship with the Operations Team, the various Boards over the years, and the Cayman Islands Government. I am appreciative of the opportunities provided to me at the NHDT as I was able to grow professionally and was allowed to contribute to various programmes of the Trust that provide housing opportunities to our people.” The announcement of Ramos’ departure was coupled with news that Deloitte has been contracted “to modernise operational frameworks and put in place new procedures that will allow the organisation to scale up operations while the Board recruits for a new general manager”. Deloitte has also been requested to look at various operations within the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, the statement said. New initiatives for housing The Trust will be introducing a series of new initiatives to support Caymanians in the housing market by increasing the supply of affordable homes, expanding the Home Repairs programme, and reintroducing a Lease to Own programme. Government recently allocated $15 million to the NHDT in the 2024-2025 budget for affordable housing measures. “The NHDT’s immediate priority is to accelerate the construction of new, for-sale homes as well as to reintroduce a Lease to Own programme which makes a portion of NHDT homes available to Caymanians who may not qualify with any local lending institutions. The Trust’s aim is for Lease to Own programme participants to own their homes outright after a period of five years,” the statement said. McBean, board chairman, said with the current shortage of affordable housing, “it is imperative that the Trust innovate and adopt a more sustainable approach in the way we design and build homes, ensuring that we achieve the most efficient use of land and deliver the greatest value for money.” The NHDT said it is expanding its Home Repairs service to include houses not built by the Trust. In partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, the programme allows homeowners who might not otherwise afford necessary repairs to maintain a dry, safe and livable environment. Ramos departing National Housing Trust as Deloitte begins review REBECCA BIRD rbird@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Turtle Centre is expecting to see a significant drop in revenue over the next two years. In 2023, revenue was projected to total $7.5 million, according to the latest ownership agreement made available in last month’s government budget. This is expected to fall to $6.7 million this year and $5.9 million in 2025 – a total decrease of about $1.6 million. The government-owned company – which operates the West Bay tourist attraction and adjacent meat farm – blames the negative forecast on a lack of visiting cruise ship tourists. Chief executive officer Christopher Jackson told the Compass that cruise tourism has long been the core business of the Cayman Turtle Centre. “Unfortunately, the industry has faced challenges in recent years, with a steady decline in the number of cruise calls due to needing a cruise berthing facility,” he said. “This decline has been particularly impactful for the CTC, as it has resulted in a forecasted decrease in its revenue.” The number of cruise ships stopping in Cayman has decreased considerably since 2019, the last full pre-COVID year, when tourism arrivals hit a record high. In the first 11 months of 2023, 1,175,137 cruise passengers arrived in Cayman, less than 70% of the 1,618,950 who arrived during the same period in 2019. In 2022, the Ministry of Tourism, based on information from cruise lines at that time, projected that just 746,000 cruise passengers would arrive on island in 2024. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said at the time that two major cruise lines – Carnival and Royal Caribbean – would be reducing calls “due to our lack of a walk-on, walk-off facility”. “This reduction in cruise calls is expected to impact CTC’s revenue significantly,” Jackson said. “As such, it is clear that the decline in cruise tourism is directly linked to the forecasted decline in revenue for the CTC.” Ripple effect He stressed that, to help offset these changes, the company has pivoted and implemented strategies to increase its market share in the stayover industry. “The Cayman Islands, being a popular cruise destination, must urgently address this issue to safeguard the cruise tourism sector’s economic stability,” he said. “With fewer cruise ships docking at the port, local businesses in George Town, tour operators, attractions, and hospitality providers will inevitably experience a decrease in customers and revenue. “This, in turn, will have a ripple effect on the overall economy of the Cayman Islands.” A petition in 2019 called for a people-initiated referendum on a proposed cruise ship pier for Grand Cayman. But the Progressives-led government at the time indicated it did not intend to move ahead with the plans, negating the need for a referendum on the issue. Minister Bryan in his budget address in December 2023 renewed a call for a referendum to be held. “We either have to be willing to accept the continual decline in passenger numbers over time or reconsider our options in respect to having a cruise pier,” Bryan said at the time. In October, the Compass revealed that the amount of green sea turtle meat that the company sold for local consumption has fallen over the past three years. Walter Mustin, chief research and conservation officer, blamed the drop on a lack of available livestock. This is due to, among other issues, a decrease in successfully hatching eggs, possibly triggered by climate change, he told the Compass. The drop in meat sales is unlikely to have had a significant effect on revenue due to the low prices. Turtle centre blames flagging cruise industry for declining revenue National Housing Development Trust general manager Julio Ramos. - Photo: Reshma Ragoonath Green sea turtles at the Cayman Turtle Centre in West Bay. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass 8 news N news WEEKLY, 12-18 JANUARY 2024Sponsored content ONE | GT, the boutique hotel and residences located in the heart of George Town, recently received several prestigious accolades at the International Property Awards. The International Property Awards rate and rank residential and commercial property professionals and their projects from around the world. They celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry. An International Property Award is a world-renowned mark of excellence. The awards are split into regions covering Africa, Asia Pacifi c, Arabia, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, UK, and USA. ONE | GT has been awarded the fi ve-star winner and nominee for several regional awards and won Best Hotel Architecture Cayman Islands and Best New Hotel Construction & Design. This is a testament to the high-quality architecture, construction and design of ONE | GT and provides great insight into the unique offering that is being developed in the Cayman Islands. The project brings modern island living to Grand Cayman, providing a contemporary and impressive destination where work and life combine effortlessly. The 11-storey structure, conveniently located on Goring Avenue, behind Bayshore Mall, is positioned to be the tallest building in George Town, blazing a trail for the capital's revitalisation. Set in an area more than 144 feet above sea level are 177 suites and residences offering private balconies with astonishing views and a wide range of luxury hotel amenities. These include a rooftop SKY Club with an infi nity edge pool, several signature restaurants, a private gym, spa services, valet parking, concierge service and much more. ONE | GT was designed by TRIO Architecture, which envisioned its remarkable construction as a fusion of modernised luxury with Caribbean fl air infl uenced by iconic destinations around the world, including Los Angeles, Paris, Miami and Rome. Mike Stroh, principal architect at TRIO Architecture said: “My involvement in this project has been both challenging and immensely rewarding. From the project's inception, I aimed to infuse a blend of contemporary design principles with elements that capture the essence of the Cayman Islands. “This approach not only required a deep understanding of architectural intricacies, but also a collaborative effort with the entire project team to bring the vision to life. “I was thrilled to receive the news that the ONE I GT hotel has been honoured with several international property awards. This award reinforces Trio Architecture's partnerships with visionary developers, as well as our standing as leaders in the industry, and motivates us to continue pushing boundaries in our future endeavours.” Jeremy Hurst, development partner and broker/ owner of International Realty Group (IRG), said: “When planning the design and layout of ONE | GT, we wanted to make sure it was a one- of-a-kind structure that Cayman has never seen before, with design infl uences from all over the world, while still encompassing Caribbean culture. “We are very proud to receive international recognition from the International Property Awards. These achievements demonstrate our commitment to producing the unparalleled high-quality product that is ONE | GT. “We are very grateful to the entire team that has supported us a long way and shared our vision for the new future of our nation's capital.” Having broken ground on 30 June 2022, the construction at ONE | GT is well underway, with the Level 7 concrete slab being completed this week and the Level 8 slab expected for completion shortly. This is on target with the current construction deadlines and the development’s expected completion in 2025. Being approximately 75% sold, ONE | GT is clearly a phenomenal development. For more information about the development, pricing, and availability, contact info@onegt.ky. ONE | GT Hotel and Residences wins international awards L-r: The development team and head architect of the award winning ONE | GT Hotel and Residences Trevor Watkins (development partner), Mike Stroh (principal architect at TRIO Architecture), Eyal Patel (development partner) and Jeremy Hurst (development partner & broker/owner of International Realty Group). cayman compass 9 WEEKLY, 12-18 JANUARY 2024Next >