Scratch card with every purchase over $6! $ 40,000 WIN UP TO IN CASH, FOOD & PRIZES! ANNI V ER SA R Y ~ SCR AT CH & W IN ! ~ Your most trusted news source Established 1965 Weekly, 22-28 March 2024 Cayman has ‘no voice’ in climate- change debate Page 10 Slain prison officer’s family shares anguish Page 21 The sisterhood of the travelling wedding dress Page 28 cayman compass Down to the wire From Netflix to finance, Cayman's data link hangs by a thread Pages 26-27Fatal collision Bodden Town In the second fatal crash in two days, a man was killed in a single- vehicle collision in Bodden Town in the early hours of Thursday morning, 21 March. As of press time, police had not released the identity of the victim. The crash occurred shortly before 2:30am near the junction of Bodden Town Road and Anton Bodden Drive. Initial investigations indicated that the vehicle was travelling west along Bodden Town Road, when it left the roadway and collided with a tree. Police said the man sustained serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead by the attending doctor. Man charged with 18 sex offences including child rape A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged with committing 18 sexual offences against three underage girls, including rape. He allegedly committed the crimes while out on court bail, awaiting trial for five other counts of grooming and indecent assault against a fourth victim, allegedly committed a year ago, police said. The man, from George Town, was charged on 14 March with 18 counts of grooming and indecent assault against the three girls, including rape, sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual communication, and possessing indecent images of a child. The crimes came to light at the end of 2023, when the mother of one of the latest victims intercepted communications between the alleged offender and her daughter and alerted police. Police examined multiple phones and communication devices and searched through more than 13,000 messages, identifying further evidence resulting in the most recent arrest and additional charges. Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown said: “It appears contact with the victims was initiated through social media. “This situation serves to stress the importance of parents and guardians being actively aware of the communication young persons are engaging in on messaging services and social media networks, via, predominantly, their mobile devices”. The man attended court on 15 March and was remanded in custody to return to court on 28 March. ID cards for elderly, children by end of year Government has announced plans to begin issuing ID cards to the elderly and youngsters in Cayman as part of a pilot programme before the end of this year, followed by a rollout to the entire population in 2025. Tamara Ebanks, chief officer in the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development, speaking at the RF Economic Conference on 15 March, said the pilot programme for the electronic identity cards, or eIDs, is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2024. “This phased introduction will see the rollout of physical eID cards, initially targeting young and older members of our community who often lack alternative forms of identification, beyond passports,” she said. “By targeting these specific groups, we aim to address a critical gap and lay the groundwork for introducing the eID cards to the wider community in 2025.” In December 2022, the government passed two pieces of legislation paving the way for the creation of ID cards and a digital identity register. Under the legislation, the ID card scheme is voluntary, and the information collected by the digital registry does not contain any information that government does not already have. The cards, which will be available free of charge, are expected to include the cardholder’s photograph, name, date of birth, sex, immigration status and unique card ID number, with additional optional information available on the scannable QR code. Prosecution drops illegal- gun importation case A man who flew into the Cayman Islands with a cache of firearms walked free from court on 14 March. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told the court it no longer wished to proceed to trial against Anton Parygin, who was accused of illegally importing multiple firearms into the island – a charge he denied. Parygin, a Canadian-Russian national, travelled to Cayman in January 2022 with a 9mm semi- automatic handgun, a 12-gauge shotgun and a semi-automatic rifle. Upon arrival at Owen Roberts International Airport, he presented the weapons to Customs and Border Control officers who proceeded to arrest him on suspicion of importation and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Parygin was due to stand trial before Justice Marlene Carter on 12 Feb. but on the morning of his trial, his attorneys, Ben Tonner, KC, and James Stenning, asked the judge to provide a ruling on how the firearms law should be interpreted. Carter ruled in favour of Tonner’s interpretation that Parygin was entitled to travel to Cayman with his firearms as long as he declared and surrendered them to CBC officers at the airport. The final matter of legal expenses was left to be decided between the DPP and Parygin’s legal team. Prisoner set cell on fire in protest A Northward Prison inmate set his bed and pillows on fire in protest, after being placed in a cell with another prisoner against his wishes. The other prisoner, Shane Connor, had been convicted of a violent home invasion. Appearing before the Grand Court via video link on 14 March, Ormario Desmond Brown, 23, pleaded guilty to arson, which occurred a year earlier on 14 March 2023. Brown, who is serving a five- year sentence for making off with a safe during an aggravated burglary, told the court he was not trying to harm anyone, but wanted to send a clear message. According to the particulars of the charge, the damage was limited to Brown’s sleeping quarters with no injuries reported. No sentencing date has been set, and Brown remains in custody. 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. BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE (PG-13) (SAT) 1:25 (SUN) 3:45 | 4:00 VIP | 9:35 | 9:35 VIP DUNE: PART TWO (PG-13) (FRI) 3:30 | 8:50 (SAT) 12:40 | 3:30 | 6:45 VIP | 8:50 (SUN-THURS) 3:30 | 6:45 VIP | 8:50 IMMACULATE (R) (FRI) 9:35 VIP (SAT) 3:55 | 10:00 VIP (MON-THURS) 3:55 | 9:35 VIP KUNG FU PANDA 4 (PG) (FRI) 3:30 VIP | 4:00 | 6:25 | 7:10 (SAT) 12:50 | 1:40 VIP | 4:15 VIP | 6:25 | 7:10 (SUN-THURS) 4:15 VIP | 6:25 | 7:10 LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (R) (FRI) 7:30 | 9:50 VIP | 9:50 (SAT, MON-THURS) 7:30 | 9:50 | 10:20 VIP THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES (PG-13) (FRI, MON-THURS) 4:25 | 4:25 VIP | 7:00 VIP | 10:00 (SAT) 4:25 | 4:50 VIP | 7:25 VIP | 10:00 (SUN) 4:25 | 7:00 VIP | 7:25 | 10:00 | 10:20 VIP WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE (PG-13) (FRI, SUN-MON, WED-THURS) 3:40 VIP | 4:15 | 6:30 VIP | 7:00 | 9:10 VIP | 9:40 (SAT) 12:45 VIP | 1:00 | 3:40 VIP | 4:15 | 6:30 VIP | 7:00 | 9:10 VIP | 9:40 (TUES) 3:40 VIP | 4:15 | 7:00 | 9:40 | 10:00 VIP KIDS CLUB THE SMURFS 2 SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) KIDS CLUB THE SMURFS SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) | 1:00 | 4:15 | 7:00 10:00 VIP CLASSICS GREASE TUESDAY 7PM VIP (PG-13) FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. Compass Centre, Shedden Road, George Town, Cayman Islands SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 • Email: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky ADVERTISE WITH US: T: (345) 949-5111 • E: sales@compassmedia.ky • W: caymancompass.com weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Slight chance evening isolated showers SEA STATE Slight to moderate with a wave height of 2 to 4 feet. WINDS East to northeast at 10 to 15 knots. 87°F HIGH 77°F LOW NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCH-GILLIES news in brief Tamara Ebanks, chief officer in the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development announcing the beginning of the planned rollout of national ID cards, at the RF Economic Outlook conference on Friday, 15 March. – Photo: Janet Jarchow Photography cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 22-28 MARCH 2024The four defendants are accused of being involved in the theft of more than half-a-million dollars from the Royal Bank of Canada on Shedden Road in 2016. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass 3 news N news WEEKLY, 22-28 MARCH 2024 ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Four people accused of playing varying roles in a bank burglary eight years ago in which more than half-a-million dollars was stolen are on trial before the Grand Court. Three of the defendants – David Samuel Bodden Jr., Statan Omar Clarke and Elton David Webster – are each charged with one count of burglary in relation to the theft of CI$464,910 and US$126,187 from cash-dispensing machines inside the Royal Bank of Canada’s Shedden Road branch on the night of 22 June 2016. Webster’s wife, Eliza Webster, was charged with one count of possession of criminal property in relation to US$4,020 that was seized from her at Owen Roberts International Airport some three weeks after the incident. All four defendants have denied the charges. “The evidence will show that these defendants worked together to execute a sophisticated burglary of the Royal Bank of Canada,” said prosecutor Nicole Petit, during her opening statement on Tuesday, 19 March. Petit told the jurors that Bodden, who was an employee of the bank, was the “inside man” who provided accomplices Clarke and Webster with access to the cash dispensers. “David’s fob activity shows that he was the last bank employee to leave the building that night. It also shows that he was the last person on the cash floor, even though his company policy prohibited such access during those hours,” Petit told the court. She added, “There was no sign of forced entry, and that is because the burglars were let in by someone who had access and insight on the bank’s internal security measures.” Sequential bank notes In what is believed to have been a matter of minutes, Clarke and Webster are said to have accessed four of the bank’s six machines, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, the vast majority of which were in Cayman Islands banknotes of $1, $5 and $10, along with US banknotes of $20, $50 and $100. “Of the six machines, only the four machines which had cash were open and on the floor, so it begs to ask how would they know which machines to touch and which ones to leave alone,” asked Petit rhetorically. “That’s because they had David’s assistance and we know it is Statan and Elton who were inside the bank because of cellphone tower evidence which places them in and around the bank at the time of the incident.” Police are said to have discovered their first major clue in relation to the bank burglary three weeks after the incident, when the Websters were stopped at the airport with more than US$7,000 in cash. It is not clear why the couple was stopped and searched. However, Petit told the court that, upon careful review, the officers discovered that Eliza Webster had in her possession $4,020 of those US notes made up of $100, $50, and $20, which were in sequential order. “The officers initially questioned as to where she got the money from and why was it still so fresh and crisp, to which Eliza responded that the money was from her savings, as well as money she had borrowed from her friends and parents,” Petit said. The jury heard that subsequent checks revealed that the seized money had been in a Bank of America branch in Florida before being shipped to the Royal Bank of Canada Shedden Road branch 15 days before the burglary. An eight-year delay When addressing the eight- year delay between the night of the burglary and start of the trial, Petit told the court it was due to a series of difficulties. “You might ask why the case took so long to come before the courts, and... the simple answer is that it went cold,” she said. “However, a new set of detectives took over the investigations and have painstakingly gone over every piece of evidence, tracked and traced every phone call and have managed to piece together the events of that night.” According to Petit, the delay has brought with its challenges to the prosecution’s case, as several witnesses were no longer able to give evidence for a multitude of reasons, and those who are able to attend court may have “understandably found their memories have faded”. The trial is expected to last two months, during which each of the four defendants will remain on bail. Another suspect, a former police officer who was initially arrested in relation to the burglary, was never charged. ‘Inside man’ was key to bank burglary, court hears RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky A law firm specialising in immigration issues says a lack of clear guidelines and policies for granting the right to be Caymanian has led to a slew of successful appeals of rejected applications. The Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board is still applying “subjective” assessments of applications in the absence of definitive government policies, according to HSM Chambers, which handles immigration appeals. The law firm noted in its most recent update to clients that of particular concern was that last year the board rejected 24 applications on the basis of naturalisation, though the firm has had some success in challenging decisions at the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. HSM said it was instructed on eight appeals arising from those 24 rejections and last month the tribunal ruled in favour of six of its clients. Four of the six appeals were connected to the children of permanent residents with the tribunal finding the board had not provided an explanation as to what they had considered before they determined that the grant would not be in the public interest. Additionally the tribunal, the firm said, found that the board continued to apply a “subjective assessment of the applications in the absence of policies”. “In February 2024 the Board granted 2 applications by children of permanent residents, which suggests they are now following the guidance laid down in these recent Immigration Appeals Tribunal decisions,” the firm said. However, it noted that the lack of policies and guidance will only lead to more board decisions subjected to challenges and being overturned on appeal. “It is sincerely hoped that these 4 individuals will be the last children of permanent residents who have their Right to be Caymanian applications rejected on the basis that it is not in the “public interest” when that public interest is not set out and that there are no facts in the specific cases which supported such a finding,” HSM stated. Nearly 37,000 work permits The update also included the latest immigration statistics. After a slight decline at the start of January, work permits have begun trending upwards once again and appear to be heading for the 37,000 mark, based on numbers shared by HSM. As of 11 March 2024, the firm said there were 36,972 work permits in effect, according to statistics released through a Freedom of Information request, which is a new record. “This is an increase of 1,438 since 1 February 2024 and a total increase of 1,529 since January 2024,” the HSM statement said. At the start of January, there was a slight dip of 1,058 work permits based on Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman statistics. The total number of work permits as at 5 Dec. had stood at 35,927. As at 4 Jan. 2024, there were 35,443 individuals on work permits, which reflected the decline, though this number rose in the weeks following till it hit the new high. With Hotel Indigo set to open next month and other developments in the pipeline for later this year, these numbers are expected to increase further. The HSM brief stated that Jamaicans still hold the largest amount of permits at 15,439, followed by Filipinos at 6,219, British at 2,051, and Indians at 2,032. Status applications moving As for determining Caymanian status applications, the firm said there has been “a significant increase” compared with prior periods related to applications based on marriage or naturalisation. A total of 57 such applications were determined in February. Previous statistics, the firm said, had showed a noticeable downturn in the conclusion of certain applications “in particular the applications for the Right to be Caymanian on the basis of marriage or naturalisation”. Law firm says residency guidelines missing1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Suffer mental breakdown (5,2) 5 Decorative design (5) 8 Under intense strain (2,3,4) 9 Manage fraudulently (3) 10 Frustrate (4) 12 Marshy area (8) 14 To an excessive degree (6) 15 Composer of Don Giovanni (6) 17 Of one mind (2,6) 18 Percolate slowly (4) 21 Occasional (3) 22 Out of bounds (3,6) 24 Perfume (5) 25 Leather-processing factory (7) DOWN 1 Throng (5) 2 Operate effectively (3) 3 Sharp (4) 4 Capital of Czech Republic (6) 5 Substantiate (4,4) 6 Bring to an end (9) 7 A fabrication (7) 11 Run away (9) 13 Temporary loss of consciousness (8) 14 Foreboding disaster (7) 16 Gain (6) 19 Troublesome (5) 20 Portent (4) 23 Wrath (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17585 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 17585 ACROSS: 1 Crack up, 5 Motif, 8 On the rack, 9 Rig, 10 Dash, 12 Quagmire, 14 Overly, 15 Mozart, 17 In accord, 18 Seep, 21 Odd, 22 Off limits, 24 Scent, 25 Tannery. DOWN: 1 Crowd, 2 Act, 3 Keen, 4 Prague, 5 Make good, 6 Terminate, 7 Figment, 11 Skedaddle, 13 Blackout, 14 Ominous, 16 Profit, 19 Pesky, 20 Sign, 23 Ire. What they’re saying Online Letters to the editor Is tourism not a pillar of these Cayman Islands? I would argue that it is the most important pillar as it relates to the average Caymanian. There was a famous saying by US President Harry Truman, “Give me a one-handed economist. All my economists say ‘on the one hand… ’, then ‘but on the other... ’.” Having read the detailed assessment by Caribbean economist Marla Dukharan [see 23-29 Feb. 2024 Cayman Compass], I find myself torn by her thoughtful analysis and my experience of 30 years on several different Caribbean islands. I do not doubt the importance and benefits to the Cayman economy by the financial sector. However, I don’t see the benefit to the average Caymanian in the way I see the tourism dollar shared throughout the Cayman Islands. The talent running banks, trust funds, mutual funds, wealth management, legal, accountancy, etc., are very well educated and pulled from all parts of the globe, because these companies can attract talent from the very best institutions and universities from around the world. How could Cayman possibly compete educationally with a highly educated and mobile workforce? I would love to see more ‘knowledge-based’ training and less inequality, but these high-paying finance jobs require an educational infrastructure generally found in large countries with the best teachers, schools, curriculum and financing. Can the Cayman Islands compete? I hope so, but it will probably be through well-funded private schools. The cost of this education (outside of scholarships) is beyond the pocketbook of most Caymanians. Tourism, by contrast, feeds the whole community. The people employed to service this sector are expats and Caymanians alike. While expats do send money home, they must pay rent, buy groceries, pay local bills, etc., which circulates throughout the Islands. The beneficiaries of this money are Caymanian-owned companies and landlords. The revenue from tourism really does trickle down into the community in ways that the finance sector does not. The finance sector may contribute more to GDP and government coffers, but that doesn’t help the average Caymanian meet their monthly expenses the way tourism revenue does. Having lived and worked alongside Caribbean people most of my life, I also question how many Caymanians have a passion for an MBA in finance or accounting? I applaud those with that passion and skill set, but there is no shame in customer service, business management, retail, healthcare, hospitality or a good trade. Tourism is about people. These jobs can be very rewarding, although you’re not likely to amass great wealth as you would by crypto currency trading or managing an offshore portfolio of funds. Tourism, managed well, will serve these islands faithfully even when other pillars falter or new ones manifest. Bob Nickoles Report: Extensive beach nourishment needed to save Seven Mile Our highly paid government officials are doing what they do best – nothing. Even the report had to be commissioned by the private sector. Trusty2man D. Stop building so close to the sea. Replacing sand does not work. Mother Nature always wins. Karen S. Making music (CayWoman feature on Sue Horrocks) Sue deserves all the accolades because she has done all the amazing things for children and music in Cayman. Jennie Go Such a fantastic and inspiring woman, and educator! Liz Millson Incredibly kind, totally dedicated, passionate and really talented! A great article reflecting what a special educator/musician and person she is! Ginny Hobday The best educator I have ever known and such a lovely, kind lady. Kerry Moss New regional campaign aims to enhance resilience against hurricanes When we take a look at some of what has been approved to be built along our shorelines, it would seem Hurricane Ivan and/or other destructive situations have never happened here. We need some sensible people making the right decisions. Darlene Glidden This group of cyclists took to the road, aiming to cycle from Tukka East in East End to Tukka West in West Bay on Saturday, 16 March, to mark St. Patrick’s Day the following day. As if a cycle from one side of the island to the other on a hot and humid day weren’t difficult enough, these six hardy souls had the added challenge of wearing leprechaun outfits where one might usually see cycling shorts. But this green team ensured they stayed hydrated by making some stops at a few establishments along the way. - Photo: Norma Connolly Tourism is main pillar of economy Cycling into St. Patrick’s Day pic of the week cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 22-28 MARCH 2024WEEKLY, 22-28 MARCH 2024cayman compass 5 WEEKLY, 22-28 MARCH 2024 RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The PACT government spent $12,000 on a pre-budget retreat at an exclusive Cayman Kai villa last summer as Premier Wayne Panton battled to hold his coalition together. The expensive getaway, which included more than $6,000 for a meeting administrator, came as the warring Cabinet attempted to heal deep divisions over spending priorities. But the effort – and the expense – was in vain, with the coalition collapsing shortly after and Panton ousted from the leadership. Multiple sources have cited disagreements over the budget as one of the principal reasons for the demise of the administration. A two-year financial plan was eventually pushed through in mid- December after Panton’s former Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor- Connolly had taken the reins. One of the first moves of the new United People’s Movement was to shell out for another retreat – this time in O’Connor-Connolly’s constituency on Cayman Brac. That forum cost just over $6,000 – mostly on flights, accommodation and expenses for ministers and senior civil servants who are based in Grand Cayman. Details of the cost of the retreats were released following an open records request from the Compass. There have been a total of three such events, costing a combined $18,000 since the last election in 2021. The Cayman Kai meeting, identified as a ‘Budget Planning Retreat’, was held on 14 and 15 July last year at the Rip Kai property in North Side. Local firm SquarePeg Ltd., identified as the ‘meeting facilitator’, was paid $6,599.99 for services rendered. According to SquarePeg’s profile, its services include “process facilitation, strategic planning and bespoke leadership and team training”. Who attended? In retrospect, the participants in the retreat actually provided an insight into the events that followed later in 2023, which saw the end of Panton’s term at the helm. The PACT coalition members Last-ditch retreat failed to heal PACT divisions The PACT administration held its ‘budget preparations’ at this luxury villa in North Side last year. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 18» Wayne Panton cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 22-28 MARCH 2024 6 Objector vows to fight on JOEL ADAMS jadams@compassmedia.ky “I’m angry. They’re destroying the island and not protecting what they’ve sworn to protect. “I’m going to fight on.” So promises the woman who is opposing the construction of more than 80 apartments and 90,000 square feet of commercial space on Batabano Road, West Bay, which she says will further increase flooding in her neighbourhood. The project has been granted planning permission by the Central Planning Authority, following its 28 Feb. meeting, the minutes of which were recently published. The minutes do not reflect how committee members voted, but the Compass understands this was a 7-6 split decision, with several members arguing vociferously against giving assent. Following news of the planning board’s decision: • Wilma Ebanks who objected to the plan at last month’s meeting vowed to appeal • One Batabano homeowner threatened to sue the government • Experts debated whether the committee understood its own responsibilities • The director of the Department of Environment said it shows the islands’ development plan was “not fit for purpose”. ‘They’re giving away the island’ The proposal by the West Village Development Company Ltd., approved by the Central Planning Authority, is for a multi-million dollar mixed-use development of four buildings: one with 32,000 square feet of retail space and 58 apartments; one with 6,000 square feet of retail space and 12 apartments; a third with 600 square feet of retail space and 12 apartments; and a fourth with 42,000 square feet of retail and storage units. Bank worker Wilma Ebanks, 68, who has lived in her home less than 200 feet from the proposed development for more than 40 years, objected passionately to the plans in the meeting last month, telling planners, “you’re destroying Cayman”. Following news of the planning board’s decision, she spoke of her anger and told the Compass the committee’s own regulations committed its members to preserving mangrove swamps and protecting the quality of life for Caymanians. She said, “They’re giving away the island. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have growth, but slow it down so it doesn’t overpower us. “This used to be an area of peace and quiet. You could walk into the swamp and see hickatees, mallards, exotic birds that had escaped from people’s homes. “We used to fish for tarpons and fry them right there. “Now it’s all going – and Planning doesn’t care.” She is going to appeal the decision, on grounds including an alleged failure to consider whether the amount of hard surfacing will exceed regulations, and whether the department is abiding by its own rules on protecting crucial mangroves. “I’m not doing this for myself, I’m doing this for my neighbours and my fellow Caymanians,” she said. Threat to sue government Upon hearing of the decision, one Batabano homeowner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “If my property floods due to these developments, I’m going to sue the government for negligence. “Properties which have never flooded before will flood now for sure – and who’s responsible for that? “It’s the CPA, acting on behalf of the government. “It’s not rainy season yet – but when it rains those plots across the road flood, that’s the catchment area. “But when they’re covered, where is the water going to go?” Cumulative impact on flooding A central issue is the potential flood impact of multiple developments in the area, including a planned police station and the large Legoland development on the adjacent plot. Does the planning committee have the right – or the responsibility – to take into account cumulative impacts, or must each application be decided in isolation? In her emotional objection last month, Ebanks told the committee that in 48 years in her home she had never had problems with flooding until the coming of recent developments. “They’re filling up the swamp,” she said, “and what’s going to happen? There’s no drainage system.” She called on the board members to reject the proposal, describing it as a step too far for the low-lying area. Planning authority member Celecia Bancroft seemed to agree, saying in the meeting: “You can’t just move downwards, let that fill up, and move on to the next one, and the next one. It will eventually be everyone who has the problem.” But, in its ruling, published Monday, the planning board said, “The applicant will be responsible for containing drainage on their property… Regarding flooding being caused by development on other properties, that is not the responsibility of the applicant and is outside of the remit of the Authority to address through this application.” Experts were divided in their analysis. Property law expert Kate McClymont of Nelsons said, “The CPA do have the right to take into account the impact of their decisions on surrounding properties. “If the CPA were constrained only to approve applications that fall within the maximum tolerances, they would serve little purpose.” She added, “I think their role is absolutely to look more broadly at the impact of these projects on the community on the whole. “If everyone involved accepts a particular project is going to cause flooding to neighbouring properties, they have to take that into consideration.” But Sammy Jackson of Jackson Law, a frequent advocate for developers, said the CPA made every development responsible for water which fell inside its own borders, but had no powers to refuse planning permission just because a proposal might impact drainage for a neighbour’s site. He said, “Planning has to look at every proposal based on its merits. They shouldn’t be able to say ‘you can’t develop your land because your neighbour can no longer drain water onto your plot’. He added, “As we build out sites, older sites in particular are prone to flooding, we’ve had that problem for a while.” He pointed out that if a policy were put in place banning development in areas where modern building standards might cause runoff onto older neighbouring sites, only tiny portions of the island would be available for development. And in that case, he said, owners who had bought their plots under current zoning rules anticipating certain development opportunities, might have to be compensated. ‘Not fit for purpose’ The director of the Department of Environment Gina Ebanks-Petrie said the DoE does believe it is the responsibility of the planning authority to take into account the wider effects of their decisions in relation to land use changes. She said, “Converting wetland to residential or commercial development obviously has a knock-on impact on the adjacent area being able to accept stormwater and mitigate it through absorption into the wetland. “This only emphasises the immediacy of the need for a revised development plan. “The Development Plan is meant to be the policy framework that guides the CPA. “The current plan is so out of date, it is disconnected from the needs of the people of the Cayman Islands and its environment. It is no longer fit for purpose.” Batabano Road development gets go-ahead “They’re destroying the island and not protecting what they’ve sworn to protect.” Wilma Ebanks, resident This land off Batabano Road, which floods when it rains, will soon be covered by buildings. – Photo: Eziethamae Boddencayman compass 7 WEEKLY, 22 28 MARCH 2024 WILLIAM A. DART MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE BY dart.ky/dart-scholar 12 APRIL 20249 MAY 2024 DART HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE BY Dart Scholar Dart Scholarships provide young Caymanians with life-changing, real-world experiences. If you’re a high achieving student who aspires to be a future leader and innovator, we invite you to apply for the 2024 scholarships. OUR 2023 DART SCHOLARS: KYLA, ALISON AND LEILA.Dulce Rodriguez JOEL ADAMS jadams@compassmedia.ky A “very lovely” 30-year-old chef from Mexico died in a car crash on Cayman Brac in the early hours of Wednesday, 20 March. Dulce Rodriguez finished work at Le Soleil d’Or at around 9:30pm and went out for dinner, according to colleagues. Police believe her fatal collision with a telegraph pole, on South Side Road West near Beach Club, happened between 2am and 3am. No other vehicles are believed to have been involved. Amar Thottathil, manager of the resort, said, “It’s a small team and everyone is close. It’s a great loss for us.” His colleagues told the Compass that Rodriquez was “very lovely”, well-liked and respected, with great professional curiosity and a particular fondness for Italian dishes and making pasta from scratch. She had been working as a demi chef de partie at the resort since November, following four months back in her native Mexico, before which she had worked at the restaurant for one and a half years. She lived on the premises. In a statement, RCIPS said emergency services were called to the scene of the crash at around 7:15am and that initial investigations indicated the driver died in a single-vehicle collision in the early hours of the morning. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Later, police confirmed Rodriguez’s next of kin in Mexico had been informed of her death and that police are providing assistance to them. A section of the road was closed while police completed analysis of the scene. It was later cleared with the assistance of the Cayman Islands Fire Service and re-opened to the public. Dulce Rodriguez was a chef at Le Soleil d’Or. Colleagues remember chef who died in Brac car crash cayman compass 8 WEEKLY, 22-28 MARCH 2024cayman compass 9 WEEKLY, 22 28 MARCH 2024 Mass_NRG_WhiteLine_Inset_NoMask_CMYKThrough all of life’s twists, turns and defining moments, we’re here to guide you. Learn more at rbc.com/caribbean/allofyou ®/™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license.Next >