2pc $3 85 4pc $6 95 cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 26 January - 1 February 2024 Legal stalwart Ramon Alberga passes Page 12 In photos: National Heroes Day Pages 8-9, 28-29 Quincy Brown bares his soul Page 24 In photos: National Heroes Pages 8-9, 28-29 Breakaway realtors New real estate group forms amid industry price-fi xing concerns Page 6Matinees (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $9.00 (Mon-Fri before 6pm) Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets 640-FILM (640-3456) Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. 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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 Rough with a wave height of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water WINDS East to northeast at 10 to 15 knots. 87°F HIGH 75°F LOW NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCH-GILLIES news in brief West Bay man gunned down Cayman recorded its first murder of 2024 on 21 Jan. when West Bay resident Travis Alexander Ebanks was shot and killed. Ebanks, age 29, was found with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the chest,” the RCIPS said. They said that officers and other emergency services found Ebanks with wounds after being dispatched to King Road in West Bay, where it was reported that gunshots had been heard, shortly before 4am. A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, described hearing the shots being fired. “I only remember hearing a loud bang and thinking ‘who would be letting off fireworks at a time like this?’ but then I heard another shot and thought, ‘this must be gun shots’,” the resident told the Compass. Police said, as of 25 Jan. no arrests had been made in relation to the murder. “Detectives are appealing for any witnesses to do the right thing and come forward,” police said. Anyone with information can call the Major Incident Room at 649-2930. Two charged with Sven Connor murder Anstacio Rankin and Roland Welcome Jr. have been charged in relation to the murder of Sven Connor. Police confirmed in a brief statement on Tuesday, 23 Jan. that both men had been charged. Connor, 42, of East End, who was also known as ‘Dapper’ or ‘Dapps’, was gunned down shortly after 7pm on Thursday, 7 Dec., in a house off Seaview Road in East End. The murder charges have been transmitted to the Grand Court where both men will make their next appearance. They have been remanded into custody while investigations continue. 2024 starts with decline in work-permit holders Cayman has registered a 1,058 drop in work-permit holders based on early January statistics from Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman. As at 4 Jan. 2024, there were 35,443 individuals on work permits, a drop from a high of 36,501 in September 2023. Immigration specialist lawyer Nick Joseph, in a recent update to his clients at HSM in which he shared the WORC statistics, said the reasons for the reported reduction of work-permit numbers are “unclear”. “They appear to be across a wide range of nationalities. It could be due to a mix of factors including a slowing down of the construction industry, in particular as interest rates bite, and sites closed for the holidays, or simply and hopefully because hundreds of Caymanians including the summer’s school and college graduates, have been able to assume many of the positions that would otherwise have been filled with expatriate labour,” he suggested. The drop in the January numbers was a continuation of a reduction that was noted in December when the statistics provided to HSM reflected a decrease of some 574 people. The total number of work permits as at 5 Dec. stood at 35,927. Joseph said that drop in permits “surprised us”. “They seemed to make little sense in the context of the Islands ‘ramping up’ in anticipation of the tourism high season,” he said. Though Jamaican workers on permits dropped by 230 in the last month – the highest decline in permits by nationality – they still topped the list for the most workers on permits in Cayman, at 14,971. Ahearn appointed chief sustainability officer After weeks of speculation, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has confirmed Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn’s departure from the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, but gave no insight into why she was no longer in the post. Instead, Manderson, in a 24 Jan. statement, announced that “as part of the ongoing Civil Service modernisation efforts”, Ahearn has been appointed as chief sustainability officer in the Office of the Deputy Governor. “In the new role, Ms. Ahearn will be responsible for facilitating strategic initiatives to integrate sustainability into all aspects of the Cayman Islands Government’s business operation,” the statement said. The Cayman Compass, since mid-December, has reached out repeatedly to government for official word on the changes to the leadership of the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, which is responsible for the ReGen project negotiations. The move, which extracts Ahearn from the helm of the ministry, has left more questions than answers, compounded by the fact that the Office of the Deputy Governor made no mention of the circumstances that led to Ahearn’s departure from the prominent role at the ministry. Ahearn, in the statement, said, “I am humbled and honoured to be considered for this critical position. I am committed to contributing to the positive evolution of the civil service and look forward to helping chart the course for an organisation with enhanced reputation, cost efficiencies and heightened stakeholder engagement, while ensuring there is a balance across the economic, social, and environmental pillars that are the ‘triple bottom line’ of sustainability.” The statement noted that, in her new role, Ahearn will have “oversight of the organisation’s operational policies and strategies, and collaborate with cross-functional teams” to promote a culture of sustainability across the civil service. George Town traffic diversions The first of several planned traffic diversions downtown took effect on 23 Jan. as part of the next stage of the George Town Revitalisation Initiative for enhancing the central business district. Motorists are being advised to exercise caution when travelling along Edward Street, Main Street, Cardinall Avenue and Dr. Roy’s Drive while the work is under way. The traffic change is part of Phase Two of the ongoing enhancement of George Town and will take about six months, according to a statement from the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing, Infrastructure, Transport and Development and the National Roads Authority. “This next phase includes upgrades to underground infrastructure on Edward Street, Main Street, Fort Street and Shedden Road, to be carried out by Caribbean Utilities Company... and the start of overground enhancements to Edward Street, Main Street and the George Town Post Office intersection, led by the [project] contractor, Robson Construction,” the release noted. The first stage of Phase Two was completed last year and, once this current stage is finished, it will connect to Phase One, the pedestrianisation of Cardinall Avenue. The next stage, Phase Three, will involve further underground and overground enhancements to Main Street. Jennifer Ahearn cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 26 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2024cayman compass 3 WEEKLY, 26 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 20241234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Completely unconscious (3,4) 5 Exact counterpart (5) 8 Adjusted precisely (4-5) 9 Pasture (3) 10 Widespread (4) 12 Illustrious (8) 14 Be present at (6) 15 Dull and boring (6) 17 Physically fit and vigorous (8) 18 To boast (4) 21 Put on (3) 22 Deadline (4,5) 24 Penurious (5) 25 Fast (7) DOWN 1 Bid (5) 2 A yellowish-brown (3) 3 Solemn undertaking (4) 4 Hold out enticingly (6) 5 To temper (8) 6 Unreasonable demand (4,5) 7 Gossip (7) 11 Very little prospect (3,6) 13 Lineage (8) 14 Give up completely (7) 16 Boil gently (6) 19 Pluckily determined (5) 20 An utter failure (4) 23 Wet soft earth (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17537 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 17537 ACROSS: 1 Out cold, 5 Match, 8 Fine-tuned, 9 Lea, 10 Rife, 12 Glorious, 14 Attend, 15 Stodgy, 17 Athletic, 18 Brag, 21 Don, 22 Time limit, 24 Needy, 25 Rapidly. DOWN: 1 Offer, 2 Tan, 3 Oath, 4 Dangle, 5 Moderate, 6 Tall order, 7 Hearsay, 11 Fat chance, 13 Ancestry, 14 Abandon, 16 Simmer, 19 Gutsy, 20 Flop, 23 Mud. What they’re saying Online Letters to the editor As I approach the 20th anniversary next month of my father’s disappearance while diving in Grand Cayman, the day is still so vivid for me. As I sat on the beach reading and watching the commotion of Coast Guard, police, air searchers, and other helpful citizens, I had no idea it was my father they were searching for. My father spent his winters on Seven Mile Beach and would have turned 73 the day after he was lost. My family has been going there since the very early ‘60s. After reading the article of the lovely gift given to the Coast Guard (see page 7), for their help trying to find family members who ultimately were lost to sea, I wanted to make sure not only Coast Guard but all the other heroes that were ‘rounded up’ and volunteered to search, were mentioned as well. There should be a special day set aside to recognise the searchers and rescuers. After my father died and before I left the island, I did write a heartfelt thank you that was put in the Compass. Ivan rolled in several months after his passing, so at least he didn’t have to endure that devastation. God bless Astor Range’s family and others who love the sea and never left it. Lia Benedek Kaufman Smart tech early flood-warning system in the works Or how about just not destroying the mangroves/ wetlands which protect us from flooding events such as the king tides and stop building the unsightly developments in the name of ‘progress’ that take away from the island paradise we know and love, and work AROUND nature which was here long before any of us. Not every tree has to be cut down and not every building has to be 10 storeys. Jared Bush Humane Society overwhelmed with animals despite full shelter Really wish people cared enough to spay and neuter their pets. There is CARE – Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts – that can help those who can’t afford it. As a society, things need to change. Stronger laws for abusers and mandatory spay and neuter. Courtney Winter Heartbreaking nessamarymur When is the new shelter being built? Seems like people can’t get it together to spay or neuter so definitely needed ASAP! danaruth04 Turtle Centre’s multi-million-dollar losses projected to grow Please don’t sell. Jacqueline Rankine In praise of ‘searchers and rescuers’ It’s a fantastic facility. Heritage is important, but these losses can be reduced, surely? bluffduppy Are they trying to reduce cost and improve efficiencies or just blaming it on reduced cruise tourists? elrey1345 Downsize and reduce staff. tom.m.ky Charge less and more people may come. fit___mama Too expensive, that’s why. kayla.parsonss It should be run like a proper business. What marketing efforts are being done to promote it? I for one always bring people who are visiting with me there. It’s my favourite place to go, besides Stingray City, of course. We can’t just rely on cruise ships. There are plenty of tourists in hotels and in Airbnbs. Are they putting marketing efforts towards those tourists? thatskarmaforu How about we redirect that funding to public transportation or some actual conservation effort? 345adventuredave How about better marketing of the place? Advertising, media, sponsoring, events, price adjustments, different attractions, live entertainment? rockman_345 Close it and set the turtles free. Problem solved. Start una job hunts now. nuthin.2.pree Maybe because the outside world isn’t interested in seeing endangered turtles in captivity. littlecaymaninthewild Only a third of applicants granted beach vendor permits There are only 10 tiny huts but 34 licences. Where will the rest of them operate from? Assuming that any of them actually operate from these huts. So sad to see the best public beach in Grand Cayman given over to higglers and cruise ship visitors, who leave trash on our beach. Norman L. If only there was any parking to even visit the beach. Andrea Hennessy 34 are too many, in my opinion. I hope there is a separate area set aside where these vendors set up that is away from the actual beach so that everyone can use the beach without being hassled or encroached on. Chairs shouldn’t be lined up on the beach, but kept at a holding area, and the vendor should bring them out as someone rents them. They should also be in good condition and not rusted out to cause anyone to get injured on them. There also needs to be some type of monitoring system set up to avoid those that will choose to still come on the property. Those that are there should be properly monitored as well, to ensure standards are kept high and customer service is at its best, particularly when our visitors are there. Phillip Wood So stupid. Our lack of beach higglers is what is so lovely about Cayman. People just want to relax on the beach, free from harassment. We will soon be like Jamaica and the Bahamas where you can’t relax in peace without being harassed to buy something. Public Beach isn’t really for the public anymore, is it? It’s turning into a dumping ground for cruise tourists. Claire Fletcher Orchard EcoVillage project halts over lack of funding Crucial functioning and thriving mangrove wetland destroyed for what? For there to be four years of no progress and then collapse of the project. The truth of it is, it never was ‘eco friendly’ the minute it cleared and concreted the natural habitat. Clare Marshall Doesn’t seem to be even affordable to build. I doubt it will be affordable for any locals. kinsey.ck Survey: 435% of CEOs worry their business will not survive next decade Would these be the same CEOs that are taking home record profits, of companies that are price gouging their customers while blaming inflation? annapeccarino Blue carbon offset: How the ocean can combat climate change Stop burning diesel in your power stations and harness the abundant solar and wind energy you are blessed with. This should be your #1 priority ahead of these meaningless initiatives. tristramc British expats win back right to vote in UK elections What about Caymanians who are now British citizens holding UK passports? Trusty2man D. Good. Time for us to get the same here. Donna Bryan cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 26 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2024®/™Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Mass_NRG_WhiteLine_Bleed_NoMask_CMYKAs a trusted financial partner for 60 years, RBC has been helping clients navigate their unique financial journeys. We offer our clients convenient, secure and innovative financial solutions for an enhanced banking experience with tailored expert guidance from our branch and specialized financial professionals. We extend our sincere thanks, to our valued clients for their steadfast support throughout the years, and we look forward to continuing to grow together. 321 Top image - Private Banking Opening at Camana Bay 1. Private Banking Opening at Camana Bay 2. Cayman Arts Festival 3. 2023 RBC Auto Show Celebrating 60 Years of Client Impact cayman compass 5 WEEKLY, 26 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2024JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Seeking to inject competition on commissions into Cayman’s real estate market amid price-fixing concerns, a group of independent realtors is forming a new industry association. The Cayman Islands Realtors Organisation, with a founding membership of 11 agencies, will collaborate on standards, training and a multi-listing sales system, but not on price. As US courts move to clamp down on anti-competitive practices in that country’s industry, fresh focus has been placed on how the market operates in Cayman. The Cayman Islands Real Estate Brokers Association locks members into a fixed commissions structure – an arrangement that would likely fall foul of fair competition laws designed to protect consumers under UK law. CIREBA – which represents 230 agents across 36 businesses and is understood to account for at least 60% of the market in Cayman – has defended its membership rules, indicating that consumers have the choice in Cayman to use realtors that aren’t members of the association. But the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal has described the association as seeking to operate like a ‘cartel’ in the way it deals with non-members. Now, realtors who operate outside of CIREBA are forming their own association, which they say intends to offer the clout of an industry association without stifling competition. Roger Southam, managing director of MyRealtor, one of the founding members of the new association, said the aim is to work together on training and standards, but to allow members to set their own price structure. CIREBA compels its members to charge sellers according to a sliding scale of fixed commission fees, ranging from 4% for properties of $9.95 million or more, to 10% for properties of less than $95,000. Most homes on the market fall within the 5-7% range. CIREBA has argued that its association is about more than just price collaboration, that it is the industry standard setter and provides a guarantee to consumers of ethical treatment and fair standards. There is currently no law in Cayman comparable to US anti-trust legislation or the UK Competitions Act, which outlaws agreements on pricing between two or more businesses, and there is no suggestion that CIREBA is doing anything improper or illegal under the territory’s legislation. CIREBA has said it spends significant funds for ongoing mandatory training of its member agents – including on new know- your-customer and anti-money laundering rules. Members also sign up to rules and regulations which go over and above the laws of the land and make them accountable for their actions, according to the association. “The result is that, over the years, CIREBA has provided the public with a safe and trusted option for pursuing Real Estate business in the Cayman Islands. The public largely takes it for granted that when they do business with a CIREBA member they are able to count on fair and ethical service,” it said. Southam argues that the two issues of standards and price should not be linked. “This is not something against CIREBA,” he said. “I just don’t happen to agree with being told what documents to use and what fees I have to charge.” Collaboration with competition Southam said the new association, which has been incorporated as a non-profit under the Companies Act, would give realtors in Cayman another option. Paul Lankford, of Elite Realty, one of the founding members, said it was important for agents outside of CIREBA to be able to work together in some ways. One of the big draws of joining CIREBA is access to the multiple listing system, where all member properties are advertised. Lankford said the Cayman Islands Realtors Organisation would be launching its own system. “As an individual brokerage, you don’t have the same power and same accessibility to the market. Because, if you’re looking for a piece of property, you don’t want to search our 10 or 11 websites. You want to find a centralised location to be able to search,” he said. Valentino Salvi, of Utopia Realty, another of the founders of the new organisation, said realtors that operated outside of CIREBA had the ability to be more flexible, particularly on price, but also in how they structure their agencies. One of the key differences is that they can more directly represent buyers. One of the quirks of the current system, in both Cayman and the US, is that agents who bring a buyer to the table are automatically guaranteed a 50% split of the commission with the seller’s agent. That creates a perverse incentive, says Southam, for the agent representing the buyer to close the deal at the highest price possible. He said independent agents were free to innovate on price and put together packages that incentivise them to work in the interests of the buyer. Southam added that bringing together the independent realtors in one umbrella agency helped put them on an “equal footing” with CIREBA realtors when it came to public perceptions around standards. “There was always this fiction, that outside of CIREBA you couldn’t be professional,” he said. “That is patently untrue because you’ve got firms that are very capable, very competent and very diligent in what they’re doing. This is just giving that a home and a focus and [for consumers] knowing the standards, and knowing you have some recourse.” The organisation will also focus on training and providing Caymanian realtors with a qualification that is recognised beyond the island, said Kiara McLaughlin, one of the founders of the organisation and an agent with MyRealtor. She said the aim is to bring more Caymanians into the industry and provide opportunities to get an accredited international real estate qualification that would be accepted overseas. Realtor association forms amid price-fixing concerns COMMISSIONS SCHEDULE - CIREBA Priced $9,995,000 and over4% Priced $995,000 to $9,994,9995% Priced $495,000 to $994,9996% Priced $95,000 to $494,9997% Priced $94,999 or under10% As US courts move to clamp down on anti-competitive practices in that country's industry, fresh focus has been placed on how the market operates in Cayman. - Photo: File The founding members of the Cayman Islands Realtors Organisation say they aim to collaborate on standards and ethics but not on price. - Photo: Submitted cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 26 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2024 6Why choose Island Heritage for contents insurance? Visit us online at islandheritageinsurance.com or call +1 345 949 7280 See policy for details. Protect your household belongings from natural and man- made calamities like Add on accidental loss or damage of valuables and electronic equipment. Up to $1,000,000 in legal liability cover when you insure your building and/or your contents. DANA KAMPA dkampa@compassmedia.ky Though 36-year-old Astor Range and his four fellow boaters were lost at sea 14 years ago, his family still vividly remembers holding out hope that the crew would be found amid 12-foot swells off North Sound on that cold day. Members of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard led the search, navigating hazardous conditions in hopes of finding the missing people. A volunteer diver found Range’s shirt, and their capsized canoe turned up near Rum Point Channel, but the boaters were never located. In recognition of the risky and exhaustive efforts of the search parties to try to locate the missing boaters, relatives of Range presented the Coast Guard with emergency supplies to mark the anniversary of the incident. The pain of the loss is still fresh for members of Range’s family, whose speeches thanking the Coast Guard were peppered with tearful pauses. Range’s aunt, Lisa Prendergast, said revisiting those memories is challenging, but the family wanted to recognise the Coast Guard’s efforts to find the boaters after they disappeared on 10 Jan. 2010. “It took us a while to heal and be able to do this. This stuff has been in my house for two years,” she said, while gesturing to the line of five bright orange life jackets honouring the five people lost at sea. Search and rescue Also lost that day were Raynel Wood, 36; Josh Gilman, 28; Jeamie Cayman Islands Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Leo Anglin accepts a donation from the family of Astor Range. - Photos: Dana Kampa Family members of Astor Range, who was lost at sea in January 2010, give their thanks to the Cayman Islands Coast Guard for its efforts to find him. Family of lost boater recognises dangerous work of Coast Guard “It took us a while to heal and be able to do this. This stuff has been in my house for two years” Avila, 19; and Michelle Wood, 13. They reportedly left the Newlands dock in a Jamaican canoe that morning in preparation for a future sail to Honduras and never returned to shore. The gift also included flash lights, first aid supplies and hand sanitiser. Prendergast said she hopes the supplies will aid the staff in facing the everyday dangers they navigate while protecting the community. “We are here to tell you that you are very important, and the job that you do is also very important,” she said. “It was a very sad day for so many families involved, but today, we’re here to say thank you for all your hard work.” She appreciated their efforts to keep the search going night and day despite the cold and treacherous waves. Lieutenant Commander Leo Anglin accepted the family’s donation on 19 Jan. at the Coat Guard base, sharing his appreciation for their thoughtfulness. “I can remember this particular incident like it was yesterday, as a person who was in the unit at the time,” Anglin said. “We put our best foot forward during the day in question and throughout the eight days. It’s never an easy case when it comes to search and rescues, and unfortunately, in this case, we weren’t able to bring the families home.” He thanked the Range family for recognising members’ efforts. Facing grief Kimberly Salgado-Madrid said she may have never have had the opportunity to meet her father, but Range will always remain close to her heart. “Thank you for being out there and risking your lives to search for him,” she told the officers, while Prendergast gave her a supportive hug. And Range’s mother, Adina Range-Prendergast, offered emphatic prayers for the officers who regularly risk their safety to help others. cayman compass 7 news N news WEEKLY, 26 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2024IRIS STONER istoner@compassmedia.ky A 25-minute rain delay did not dampen the spirits of those who came out to Heroes Square Monday to celebrate Cayman’s ‘Cultural Artists and Creatives’. The more than 80 people and groups honoured on National Heroes Day comprised Cherished Classics (Early Pioneers), Cultural Luminaries (Pioneers), and Cultural Heritage Groups. The list of honourees read like a who’s who of arts and culture in Cayman. Among the people recognised as Cherished Classics were artist ‘Miss Lassie’ Gladwyn Bush; drummer ‘Aunt’ Julia Hydes; and National Song composer Leila Ross-Shier. Cultural Luminaries included Eziethamae Bodden, wearing a traditional dress, who last year was awarded a Heritage Cross for her lifetime of work in the preservation and celebration of Caymanian cultural heritage; John Broad; Matt Brown; Deborah Chase van der Bol; Leonard Dilbert; Reba Dilbert; Consuelo Ebanks; Deal Ebanks, who earlier in the event blew a pink queen conch shell; Rita Estevanovich; and Rose May Ebanks. And, finally, the Cultural Heritage Groups included the Cayman Islands Folk Singers, the Native Sons artist collective, North Side Kitchen Band, Swanky Kitchen Band and the heritage committees of Bodden Town, East End, George Town, North Side and West Bay. Wesley Howell, chief officer in the Ministry of Culture, who was the emcee of the proceedings, in a nod to the weather, noted in his opening remarks that prayers for it not to be too hot on the day had been answered and “we can pray now that the rains will stay away”, after the initial weather delay. This celebration marked Governor Jane Owen’s first National Heroes Day as she inspected the uniformed services upon her arrival, to the strains of ‘Somewhere My Love’, the theme song for the film ‘Dr. Zhivago’. ‘Remarkable individuals’ As in years past, more than 200 schoolchildren paraded around the square waving Cayman flags, about which Howell commented, “No matter how old I get, I still get goosebumps from seeing the uniformed services and others in their colours marching into Heroes Square and I equally get goosebumps from seeing those schoolchildren from young to older waving those Cayman flags.” Minister of Culture Dwayne Seymour, in speaking to the special occasion, said, “Today we gather to celebrate and recognise the remarkable individuals who have left an indelible mark on the cultural and artistic landscape of the Cayman Islands.” In pointing to the “rich diversity of our cultural heritage”, he said “it was through the artistic expressions of our people that we find the heartbeat of our nation”. Arts and culture heroes recognised Eziethamae Bodden was honoured with a 'Cultural Luminary' award. – Photo: Katie O'Neill From left, Rita Estevanovich-Ebanks (with her son Elijah), Rose Mae Ebanks, and Horatio Esteban-Chantilope, who all received 'Cultural Luminary' awards. - Photo: Katie O'Neill Designer Reba Dilbert, left, received a 'Cultural Luminary' award. - Photo: Katie O'Neill Marcieann Hydes, who received a 'Cultural Luminary' award, with her son Ken. - Photo: Katie O'Neill Sabrina Turner and Kenneth Bryan prepare to lay wreaths. - Photo: Katie O'Neill cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 26 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2024 8 Governor Jane Owen takes part in her first National Heroes Day celebration. – Photo: Cayman Islands Government FacebookArts and culture heroes recognised He also spoke of the “torchbearers who have tirelessly worked to elevate our cultural and artistic industries. Their dedication and passion have not only brought recognition to our islands but have also inspired the younger generations to pursue their artistic dreams.” Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who spoke after Seymour, told those gathered it was the “Christian heritage and culture of the Cayman Islands” that was being celebrated. She said that Cayman “has such a problem in choosing heroes”, that it is usually more than 100, compared to much fewer in other countries. “We did try very hard this time to make it a shorter programme and to ensure that there were persons truly who should be receiving [awards],” she added, thanking everyone involved in the process. “Who do you see Cayman when you look in the mirror? A proud… Caymanian because of the foundation that our forefathers and mothers gave us,” O’Connor- Connolly said. “We are the beneficiaries of this rich culture and heritage that our ministers can now pick up the torch and carry on… that they will ensure it is an unadulterated culture of the Cayman Islands.” She finished with, “We don’t have to wait one year to be pronounced a hero. You just have to be born, and follow in the footsteps of a good, blue-blooded… Caymanian ready to stand, protect, preserve and defend what is in this country.” Order of the Cayman Islands In addition to the culture and heritage heroes honoured, Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose led the investiture ceremony for the Order of the Cayman Islands, a society of honour established under the National Honours and Awards Act (2021 revision), whose motto is ‘Determination conquers all’. The new members of the Order were: To be a companion, Dwayne Seymour, for services to the people of the Cayman Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic; to be an officer, Joel Walton; for services to the public sector, maritime and shipping administration; and to be a member, Carmen Conolly for services to the community and contributions to the arts and preservation of Caymanian heritage. Cayman’s 10 national heroes were also remembered at Monday’s ceremony, with biographies read out of the six men and four women while wreaths were laid by their busts in Heroes Square – James Manoah Bodden, William Warren Conolly, Thomas William Farrington, Sybil Joyce Hylton, Sybil Ione McLaughlin, Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart, Ormond Lauder Panton, Desmond Vere Watler, Mary Evelyn Wood and Leila Ross-Shier. Seymour also announced that next year’s National Heroes Day will celebrate the icons of business and entrepreneurship, a tribute to Cayman’s business, ingenuity, creativity, successes, hard work, innovation and leadership. Hildrige Marlena Anglin, second from left, received a 'Cherished Classic' award. She is pictured with, from left, MP McKeeva Bush, Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, and government minister Dwayne Seymour, who received a 'Companion of the Order of the Cayman Islands' award. - Photo: Katie O'Neill Isaac Jeralow Rankine, centre, who received a Cultural Luminary award, is congratulated by his son, government minister Isaac Rankine, right, and Deputy Premier André Ebanks. - Photo: CIGTV Stephen Quinland and his mother Marge, who accepted the award in the Cultural Heritage Group category for Radley Gourzong and the Happy Boys. - Photo: Katie O'Neill cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 26 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2024 9 Carmen Conolly is escorted from the stage after being awarded Member of the Order of the Cayman Islands medal. - Photo: Katie O'NeillNext >