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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 chance of isolated showers SEA STATE Moderate with a wave height of 3 to 5 feet. WINDS East at 15 to 20 knots. 87°F HIGH 77°F LOW NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCH-GILLIES news in brief Man charged with jury tampering in football corruption case A George Town man is expected to stand trial on charges of jury tampering, after prosecutors say he tried to arrange the acquittal of two men who were convicted in a football fraud trial. Allen Kennedy Ebanks, 62, appeared before the Grand Court on Friday, 12 April, where he entered a not guilty plea to a charge of attempting to defeat the course of justice. Sometime between 1 Sept. 2022 and 26 Oct. 2022, Ebanks is alleged to have called a member of the jury in the trial of Canover Watson and Bruce Blake, asking him to convince the other jurors to enter not guilty pleas on all counts. Disgraced Cayman Islands Football Association executives Watson and Blake were eventually convicted and sentenced to eight and two years, respectively, in prison. In the current case, Ebanks’ attorney, Richard Barton, noted, “It is a single complainant, and 10 hours of CCTV footage,” so it was anticipated the trial will last five days. Ebanks was released on bail, with conditions. He returns for trial on 2 July. Man dies at NiCE briefing A man died on Monday morning, 15 April, at a National Community Enhancement programme briefing. The Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure announced his passing in a press release. “The gentleman, whose identity will remain confidential pending family notification, tragically collapsed during the session,” the ministry said in the press release. Supervisors followed emergency protocols, calling emergency services and administering CPR until they arrived. “Despite these efforts, the individual passed away shortly after their arrival,” the ministry said. The ministry extended its sympathies to the family, requesting that the public respect their privacy at this time. It also pledged to fully review the incident in the interest of ensuring all programme environments are “safe and supportive for all participants”. Infrastructure work on East End affordable housing lots begins Roadway and storm-water management infrastructure work is set to begin at a proposed affordable housing project on the site of the old Sunrise Cottage Retirement Home on Austin Conolly Drive in East End. Planning permission for the 54-lot subdivision – part of which includes the site of the retirement home, which closed down in 2019 – was granted in March last year. The Ministry of District Administration and Lands, which is working with the Public Works Department on the project, advised in a 17 April statement of the commencement of the construction work to develop roadway and stormwater management infrastructure, which is being done by Island Paving. “Upon completion, it will provide access to approximately 50-55 affordable residential land lots, enhancing accessibility and facilitating community development,” the ministry noted. The infrastructure work, which the ministry warned would include noisy rock jackhammering, is expected to be completed by the end of November this year. Man arrested for blade attack Police arrested a 40-year- old Bodden Town man after he reportedly attacked several people with a bladed weapon in the early hours of Saturday, 13 April, according to an RCIPS news release. The incident took place on Seymour Road, George Town, the release stated. Officers arrived at about 1:30am and made the arrest, they said. Several victims reportedly took private transportation to the hospital for treatment. “On arriving at the hospital officers spoke with two victims who stated they had been attacked by the man,” the release said. The victims have since been treated and discharged. The man was released on bail after appearing in court on Monday, 15 April. He was ordered to appear before the Grand Court 26 April. Dual police operations result in two drug arrests Officers made two ganja and cocaine-related arrests in separate operations last week. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said in a 12 April press release that it carried out the first operation jointly with Customs and Border Control officers. A 21-year-old West Bay man was detained during a vehicle stop on Esterley Tibbetts Highway, and a search warrant was subsequently executed at his premises, the release said. Officers arrested him for possession and possession with intent to supply (ganja and cocaine), and on suspicion of consumption. Law enforcement made a second arrest on 11 April after searching a residence in Lower Valley, Bodden Town, with a search warrant. They arrested a 29-year old man for possession and later charged him with possession with intent to supply (ganja and cocaine), suspicion of consumption, money laundering, possession of drug utensils, and possession of criminal property. He appeared before the court on Monday, 15 April, where he was bailed with strict conditions. He is expected to return to court on Tuesday, 30 April. Elderly snorkeller dies A 72-year-old man from Illinois died after getting into difficulty while snorkelling on Wednesday, 10 April, at Cemetery Beach, West Bay. Emergency services responded to a report of a person in distress shortly after 11:30am that day, according to an RCIPS news release issued on 12 April. People on the beach helped bring the man, who had been snorkelling with friends, ashore, and started conducting CPR, before emergency services arrived and took over, police said. The man was transported by ambulance to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police probationary officer suspended following arrest A Royal Cayman Islands Police Service probationary officer has been suspended from duty after she was arrested on suspicion of theft and aggravated burglary. Police, in a statement issued 17 April, gave scant details of the 23-year-old woman’s arrest, merely saying it had been made “in relation to a domestic incident”. The arrested woman was released on police bail “pending further investigation”, the RCIPS said. The Compass requested further information from the RCIPS regarding the arrest, and was told the offences had been committed against a person known to the woman, but would not give any other details. The planned affordable housing project in East End will be built on the site of the old Sunrise Cottage. - Photo: File cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 2024JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The concept of a new cruise pier to develop Cayman Brac as a ‘boutique destination’ has drawn a mixed response, with some hopeful of a business boom and others cautiously questioning, “Just how big is boutique?” Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan confirmed that government has held discussions with cruise industry leaders over the possible development of a new pier that can cater to smaller cruise vessels. The heads of several major cruise-ship brands visited the Brac in late February and have expressed keen interest in the destination. Bryan told the Compass that he believes there is community support for small scale cruise tourism to be developed on the larger of the two Sister Islands. And he said many of the environmental concerns that caused public outcry when two large piers were proposed for George Town harbour, simply don’t exist at the location under review. “Would we be willing to build a pier on Cayman Brac? The answer is yes,” he said in response to questions from the Compass, following an article in the Caribbean Journal. Smaller ships Bryan said the target market was smaller ships – catering to 500 to 1,000 passengers – but potentially going as high as 2,500 in some cases. The minister, who was at the Seatrade Cruise Global event in Miami Beach on 7-11 April, said industry leaders, including those in that smaller niche, were very interested in the concept. He said the project was still in the ‘exploratory phase’ and would likely require a commitment of two-to-four cruise calls per week to make it viable for businesses to develop. Even without a pier, he said, some brands were willing to commit to calling on the Brac. Bryan highlighted an ‘exodus’ of young people from the Brac to Grand Cayman and further afield and said developing private sector job and business opportunities was a priority. He said the project has the support of Premier and Brac MP Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who was among a government delegation meeting with cruise officials on the island recently. The Florida Caribbean Cruise Association affirmed its interest in an article in its trade magazine, Travel & Cruise, which details “intensive discussions” with Cayman’s leaders about a new port of call on the Brac. Citing the Bluff, world-class diving, hiking trails and rock- climbing tours, it highlights the Brac as an off-the-beaten track destination that would appeal to cruisers. Port Zeus links explored The cruise pier project could be linked to a separate development of an inland harbour proposed by entrepreneur Frank Schilling and currently under review by government. The Port Zeus project, if approved, would create a protected marina, with berths for fishing boats and super yachts, and surrounding amenities close to Scott’s Dock. The project, as currently envisaged, would not be large enough to accommodate cruise ships. Schilling said his vision was to provide a “badly needed” amenity for the islands and attract inter- island and regional tourism. He said the Port Zeus plan, currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment as part of a coastal works application, could accommodate a passenger ferry or a large yacht, but not a cruise ship. He said there was government- owned land adjacent to the project site and he would be willing to discuss working with them on separate infrastructure if required. “Ultimately as the creator of this type of infrastructure, you do not have the luxury of dictating what you want. I think if that’s something the community wants, I would be willing to be involved,” he added. How big is boutique? Moses Kirkconnell, one of the two elected representatives for the Sister Islands in Parliament, gave tentative support to the concept but said a key factor would be scale. He said the idea of bringing smaller ships to the Brac had been under discussion for some time. It’s a concept he supports, up to a point. “I believe super yachts and small cruise ships have a part to play in Cayman Brac, absolutely. The question then becomes what do you class as a small cruise ship? “I think something around 500 passengers is what the community would accept and what makes sense in terms of what the island could accommodate. That would allow the Brac to keep its charm and help provide economic activity.” Kirkconnell cited a lack of tour buses and other services on the Brac to support much higher volumes of tourism. “I don’t know how you would go to 2,500. You would need 80 coaches and then you would need enough work for them every day, not just a couple of times a year.” But he highlighted a range of luxury boutique lines – including Regent Sea Cruises and Silversea – as worth pursuing. The Sister Islands Tourism Association said it was unaware of the discussions at this stage and would like to be involved in the conversation as the concept develops. Peter Quilliam, president of the association, said, “Without proper consultation with existing operators, the business community and the locals of the Sister Islands, there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before we could fully support this concept. “If there was a business plan that focuses on business growth within the Tourism industry we would of course want to be involved in those discussions.” ‘Intensive Discussions’ The Florida Caribbean Cruise Association didn’t respond to request for comment Monday. But the visit of industry representatives to the Brac featured in a glowing profile in its trade magazine, titled, ‘The Cayman Islands Charting New Waters, Looking to Develop Cruise Port in Cayman Brac.’ “FCCA executives visited existing port sites on Cayman Brac and engaged in intensive discussions on the cruise tourism opportunities for the island, including a new port of call,” the article said. The report highlights meetings between the association, cruise leaders and government officials including O’Connor-Connolly. Bryan said the discussions had continued at last weekend’s trade show with the smaller brand operators that would fit the profile for the Brac. “We are not talking about mass tourism. We are trying to create a boutique model,” he said, noting that ships in the larger 2,500 range would be a rarity. He acknowledged that efforts to bring a cruise pier to Grand Cayman had encountered significant opposition, culminating in a petition that would have forced a referendum, prior to the project being abandoned. But he said the conditions on the Brac were different. He said the area close to Scott’s Dock was already zoned for port development, had access to deep water and would not require significant dredging, and did not have the added risk of being located close to Seven Mile Beach – a key concern for those who opposed the George Town project. Nonetheless, he accepted the project would have to go thorough a business case and environmental assessment process and would not happen ‘overnight’. He feels it is something that would appeal to the local community and warrants further exploration. “We invited the industry to the Brac to see if they would be interested in this type of boutique model and the answer was yes,” he said. “When we put it all together, we felt it was something that could be done without disrupting the slow laid-back feel of the Brac, which is actually part of the appeal for these ships and these tourists.” Privately, some business owners and residents on the Brac have expressed doubts about the viability of cruise tourism for the island, given the relative lack of amenities compared to Grand Cayman. Others were more optimistic. At Pat’s Kitchen, a restaurant and bar that deals in Caribbean specialties like salt beef and beans, baked chicken and Cayman-style fish, proprietor Allan ‘Patrick’ Williams welcomed the discussions. “I think we deserve a few cruise visitors over here,” he said. “We depend a lot on the locals and there are a lot of bars and restaurants, so that is tough. If we get a few more people coming in it would boost the economy here.” Simone Scott who runs an art gallery on the Brac, said tall ships and a few high end luxury lines had visited the island before and are a good fit for the Brac. But she believes it should be limited to a capacity of around 750 and with no more than one per week initially. She cautioned against over committing to cruise tourism, especially larger ships, without a wider plan to accommodate taxis, tour operators and vendors. Scott said she does not want to see over development on the Brac as has happened in Grand Cayman and cautioned that if the Port Zeus project goes ahead, “that’s more than enough development for now.” Martin Keeley, one of the founders of the Cayman Islands Mangrove Education Project and a long-time Brac resident, was more sceptical. He said any cruise pier plan would need to be backed by proper data analysis including a survey of Brackers. “Previous boutique cruises to the Brac like the sail cruiser managed just fine with tenders,” he said. “There were about 300 passengers and they walked the West End. A few made it to the Brac Beach Resort. The rest just wandered around.” See Business, page 25, for more tourism news. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, third from left, discussed the possibility of a cruise pier on Cayman Brac with industry officials at a recent meeting on the island. - Photo: Bryan Cubas Photography Brac cruise pier proposal aims to attract ‘boutique’ ships cayman compass 3 news N news WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 20241234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 A great success (7) 5 Tree of Acer genus (5) 8 Documentation (9) 9 After all deductions (3) 10 Dejected (4) 12 Competitor with little chance (4,4) 14 A monastery (6) 15 Solid content (6) 17 State of being forgotten (8) 18 Regularly traversed round (4) 21 Do wrong (3) 22 Sacred writings (9) 24 Slightly unwell (5) 25 Uneasy (7) DOWN 1 Slightly warm (5) 2 Mischievous child (3) 3 To notice (4) 4 Bringer of bad luck (6) 5 Substantiate (4,4) 6 A dwelling on a roof (9) 7 Designate (7) 11 In a more prominent form (4,5) 13 Grotesque misrepresentation (8) 14 Extraordinary ability (7) 16 The next day (6) 19 Set foot (5) 20 Stimulus (4) 23 Prefix indicating one (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17609 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 17609 ACROSS: 1 Triumph, 5 Maple, 8 Paperwork, 9 Net, 10 Down, 12 Long shot, 14 Priory, 15 Volume, 17 Oblivion, 18 Beat, 21 Err, 22 Scripture, 24 Seedy, 25 Worried. DOWN: 1 Tepid, 2 Imp, 3 Mark, 4 Hoodoo, 5 Make good, 6 Penthouse, 7 Entitle, 11 Writ large, 13 Travesty, 14 Prowess, 16 Morrow, 19 Tread, 20 Spur, 23 Uni. What they’re saying Online Letters to the editor Two-thirds of primary school students falling short in reading, writing and maths Look at the wealth of excellent longitudinal studies and it is as clear as day: investment in early childhood care and education – from before birth to 5 years – is the magic wand that will transform the trajectory of children’s lives. Play-based, age and developmentally appropriate, nurturing care… NOT sitting at desks doing worksheets and getting homework at age 3! Juliet Pilgrim If a system is failing the majority of its students, then the system itself needs to change. Blaming the kids and the parents is nonsensical, it gets you nowhere. The parents aren’t hiding the good kids at home, they are sending us the best they have. We need systemic change…. Anne Briggs Our future leaders, scary thought. But it’s not all the teachers’ fault, parents need to be involved in their children’s education too. There’s plenty of blame to go around. Wanda Viscount At some point, the parents and guardians need to take some of the blame. Government provides the tools, but the parents and kids need to use them. Natasha-Gillian Bunting Not at some point. Children should learn to read before they even get the kindergarten. Parents fail their children and expect others to pick up the slack. Barry Jones CI Government priorities: Oh yeah, our education system is failing, so let’s build a cruise ship port in Cayman Brac. Jared Bush Aqua Bay 10-storey development: Planning board rejects ‘ill-conceived monstrosity’ Protect the environment! Add bike lanes. Go green! Glad to see the old people won on this one. Mr Bodden E. What about the two “ill conceived monstrosities” they approved on the coastline of South Sound Road? I suggest the Planning Board members go and have a look at these towers in situ now that they are almost completed. They are a classic example of planning ineptitude, towering over all the neighbouring properties which are either one or two stories, and crammed into a small plot of land. Trusty2man D. You could put that label on a few others already constructed. John Broad It would be nice if they said no to all 10-storey buildings! Cayman is losing the charm that brought me there in the ‘80s. And the wrong folks are making $$$. Vicki Gowin There is a better way to design – respect the landscape, amplify the local beauty, don’t detract from it. Help the inhabitants know they are in Cayman by highlighting local craft and materials. Buildings should connect to the landscape, not overshadow it. These are principles that should be adopted by anyone designing here. Lisa Ramond Kistner Spilling the tea on ‘Secrets in Paradise’ I realise that the first episode is bound to be somewhat unfocused as characters are introduced, but last night’s beginning was an extreme disappointment. Determined to show from the outset that it was going to be fast paced and slick, few shots lasted more than two seconds, and the dialogue was so poorly articulated that they had to resort to sub-titles which remained on screen for so short a time that sometimes you didn’t have time to read them. It had a real hodgepodge of character development, bland in the extreme. Worst of all, it did nothing to show the Cayman Islands in a favourable light, using what appeared to be extremely short clips of the obvious attractions: beach, boats, surfing, palm trees, all of which could have been taken from generic tourist ads. Tedious boredom; very disappointing. David A. The first episode felt so scripted (let’s have a party) but not sure why there was a need to drive such a spike between Caymanians and expats. It didn’t bring people together. It did a good job showing the Caymanians as entitled and the bakery girl as dragged through the mud. Craig E. Garbage. Not at all representative of Cayman in a positive light. Those Caymanians involved had a great opportunity to showcase Cayman and instead they put out fake reality rubbish. island_dream_photography I can’t wait to NOT watch it. thatskarmaforu The show was very good. Give it an A in ratings. viplooksky ‘Merchants of Evil’ – Criminal brokers quietly profiting from bloodshed in Cayman This was a great analysis. So, basically, do-nothing gangsters without even the sense to do what a gang is supposed to do. Tdaccounting A. As an American living in the Cayman Islands, maybe the focus should be more on who is doing the shooting and why, versus where the guns are made and how they are trafficked. I have yet to see an article blaming the rum distiller for the DUIs that result in fatalities here on the island. Or blaming the tool company for making the machetes used in robberies! Maybe we can hold car manufacturers accountable for the bad drivers here that ignore the speed limits or drive reckless. Like the United States, the focus, I believe, is misguided and should be on who is pulling the trigger versus what weapon/tool was used. Creating more laws or banning certain guns isn’t going to stop the bad guys or unstable people from getting guns, pulling the triggers and bringing them to your island paradise illegally! Bad guys tend to not follow laws the last time I checked. Justin Bard The Cayman Islands Tourism Minister, Kenneth Bryan, is positing the development of a new pier and inland marina which will cater to small-scale cruise tourism on Cayman Brac. Cayman Brac is the most rural, laid-back and charming of the three Cayman Islands. Port Zeus, the Mediterranean Village with beachfront, housing and an inland port for visitors’ yachts, proposed in 2022 by entrepreneur Frank Schilling was not approved by the Grand Cayman Planning Department. Mr. Bryan has suggested that both the new pier and inland marina along with Mr. Schilling’s Port Zeus plans on the Brac would be profitable for the Cayman Islands. Both MPs from the Brac, Premier Julianna O’Connor- Connolly and former Deputy Premier, Moses Kirkconnell, agree that Cayman Brac can support more development and infrastructure for people of all three islands. Opportunities for employment are limited for Brackers, who head to Grand Cayman after leaving school for jobs that aren’t available on the Brac. The new development proposed by Minister Bryan for smaller cruise ships and tourists is an excellent idea that would provide opportunities for Brackers and local workers. The Brac’s white sand beaches are breathtaking. Beyond scuba diving and climbing the Bluff, there are many treasures to be discovered on this Cayman Island by visitors from all over the world! Nan Socolow Thoughts on proposed Cayman Brac developments Focus on the criminals, not the guns cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 2024WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 2024SHANDA GALLEGO sgallego@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Catboat Club has unveiled a new sculpture dedicated to Caymanian seafarers Captain Kemuel ‘Kem’ Jackson and the late William Austin Ebanks for their contributions to Cayman’s rich maritime history and for keeping the catboat alive. The 400-pound catboat sculpture, which is also a bench and now sits outside the club’s headquarters on North Church Street, along the George Town waterfront, was unveiled on 11 April, with the family and friends of Ebanks and Jackson on hand. The creation of the catboat replica took more than 600 hours to design and build, and was crafted by Cayman- based company, Artisan Metal Works, and sponsored by Dart. Men of the seas Denniston Tibbetts, president of the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association, said the two men “have preserved the history of the catboat and the seafarers association, so I really pay homage to the both of them”. During his remarks, Catboat Club president Jerris Miller was moved to tears as he shared insight into Cayman’s seafaring history and how Jackson and Ebanks promoted catboats. “There were two working catboats on the island in 1988, so we really needed to make an effort to keep the Cayman catboat tradition alive and in the forefront of people’s minds,” he said. “When you see a beautiful catboat on display anywhere in the Cayman Islands, it’s beautiful because of one man… Kem Jackson. “Kem Jackson is living such an interesting life. He has accomplished two things in varied works that he has done that the rest of us are just amazed by. Most of all is his personality. People who know nothing about the catboat loved Kem Jackson... love him today, and we’re so happy he’s still with us because he is an all-star.” Talking about Ebanks, Miller called him “Willie Nelson to the Catboat Club”. “A calmer, more serene person you could not find,” he said. “And one of my favourite pictures is with ‘Willie Nelson’ on the weatherboard of a catboat. This is one of the most scary jobs that you can get, and he’s so relaxed and serene and comfortable with himself.” He added, “I really am so glad to honour these two people.” Eight-bell honour Miller and Tibbetts ended the ceremony by the ringing of eight bells for seamen past. Cabinet Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, daughter of Austin Ebanks, said hearing the bells ringing was a “very emotional” moment. She said she was “reminded of the frequent stories that he told us of his time in the open water. His favourite pastime was when he was on watch.” “I am so happy that the Dart organisation has chosen to honour Captain Kem and my dad, who were really instrumental in building the catboat association. It was probably one of my dad’s safe havens. If he wasn’t on the boat sailing, you’d find him at the Catboat Club. “Just to be here to see something… recognising all of the hard work that him and a number of men, including Captain Kem, have done to preserve our heritage, this makes me feel really proud.” Ebanks-Wilks said it’s important to keep Cayman’s maritime history alive. “It’s a reminder to all of us younger Caymanians of our duty to keep this maritime heritage alive, and there’s so many more things we can do to continue to build what they started. We complain that we are a minority in our own country, but these are the things that are really our duty to uphold.” Editor’s Note: The Cayman Compass is a subsidiary of Dart Media and Entertainment. The late Austin Ebanks - Photo: File The Cayman catboat bench sculpture created in honour of Captain Kemuel Jackson and the late William Austin Ebanks. - Photos: Supplied Captain ‘Kem’ Jackson's family in front of the Cayman Catboat sculpture. The family of William Austin Ebanks sits on the catboat bench at the dedication ceremony. New catboat sculpture honours seafarers William Austin Ebanks William Austin Ebanks was an avid catboat racer who served as a director of the Catboat Club. For more than 20 years, he worked with Dart as one of the company’s first team members, cultivating the gardens and nursery. He shared his passion for the sea with colleagues, avidly recounting details of boat craftsmanship, knowledge of waterways and how many catboats Cayman had in their heyday. At his memorial two years ago, his friend and manager Shannon Schmidt noted, “Mr. Austin was happiest on the ocean with his wife and children, and he spent whatever chance he got sailing with his family. The way he would stare out at the sea, as he would often do, it was obvious there was a special connection.” Captain Kem Jackson Captain Kemuel ‘Kem’ Jackson went to sea as a young man and worked his way up to chief engineer, according to his biography. His later life’s work was devoted to restoring old catboats and crafting new ones. A master boat builder who grew up and raised his family in West Bay, he served as vice president of the Catboat Club. He has been recognised with an MBE and National Heritage Award for his stewardship of Cayman’s culture. His most notable creations included a six-foot model as part of a display that won a silver medal in the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show and the refurbished 24-foot Whittaker Cat which is now used for educational programmes and heritage celebration races. About the catboat honourees The number of hours it took to build the replica catboat cayman compass 5 news N news WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 2024NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky The lifting of Cayman’s ‘mad cow disease’ ban on blood donations has led to an uptick in donors at the local blood bank. The Cayman Islands government lifted the decades-old ban in late September last year. During that month, 143 units of blood were donated. The following month, donations jumped to 194. Kristina Battad-Miranda, medical technologist at the Health Services Authority’s blood bank, told the Compass, “The support from British residents is tremendous since we lifted the ban, and they are happy to know that they are now able to donate blood here in Cayman.” With Cayman’s growing population, and a whole new tranche of donors opening up with the lifting on the ban, the blood bank has been holding more blood donation drives. Battad-Miranda said since the ban was lifted, there has been an “increase in the donor pool, increase in the number of ‘O Rh Negative’ donors and increase in the number of blood drives”.O Rh Negative is the universal blood type, meaning it can be received by patients of any blood type. Previously, the blood bank had been holding one blood drive a month, but since the ban was lifted, it has been holding them once a week. Between September 2023 and March 2024, the blood bank has received 990 units of blood from donors. Battad-Miranda says this is a “significant increase” over the same period in previous years. ‘Happy to donate’ For years, whenever the blood bank or hospitals put out an appeal for donors, it inevitably led to a litany of complaints from former residents of the UK, who said they would’ve been more than willing to donate blood but were not allowed to do so. One British donor and long-time Cayman Islands resident, Steve Tippetts, gave blood at the end of January and plans to return to give more blood at the end of this month. “I’m really pleased that the restrictions have been lifted. My blood is the universal donor and I’m happy to be able to start donating again,” he said. He added, “I believe that the restrictions lasted too long and penalised the blood donors unnecessarily, especially as I technically only lived in UK for about three months of the dates.” Corporate blood drives As well as people donating blood at the Cayman Island Hospital, where the blood bank is located, many corporate offices are also organising their own blood drives, Battad-Miranda said. She says this is proving to be “more convenient for them, especially now that the traffic is horrendous”. She added, “We also had a great response from the British nationals, and everyone wanted to be part of a good cause in saving lives.” According to the Cayman Islands Blood Bank, each year, more than 500 residents require blood transfusions, and this need is rising as Cayman’s population continues to grow. It takes about 10 minutes to donate blood, and each donation could save up to three lives, the blood bank says. What led to the ban? The ban was put in place – not just in Cayman but in many countries – following fears that people who had lived in countries affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as ‘mad cow disease’ or BSE, could be unknowingly infected with the related variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and therefore were not considered to be suitable blood donors. Previously, anyone who had lived in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 2001 for a period of three months or more, or who had received a blood transfusion whilst in the UK from 1980 onwards, was not allowed to donate blood at Cayman’s blood bank. That policy was changed by the Cayman Islands government on 22 Sept. 2023. A statement from Cayman’s Ministry of Health and Wellness at the time noted, “An assessment of the current risk, along with existing controls for blood donors, allowed several countries to revisit similar policies. While humans cannot contract BSE, eating beef from a cow that has BSE can trigger variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, or vCJD, which causes progressive and ultimately fatal brain damage.” Mad cow disease was first recognised in the UK in 1985, before being found in several other European countries and worldwide. The human version of the disease, vCJD, was first detected in the UK in 1996. The blood-donation ban was introduced in 1999 after it emerged that 18 of the 178 vCJD cases in the UK had donated blood that was subsequently used in 67 blood transfusions. Three deaths from vCJD were linked to blood transfusions between 1996 and 1999 that involved blood from two donors who died from the disease within one to three years of their donations, according to the US Food and Drug Administration website. The UK is the only country where the disease has been found to be transmitted via a blood transfusion, the FDA noted. The last reported case of the disease being transfusion-transmitted in the UK occurred in 2006. Blood donation equipment gift The Health Services Authority said the efficiency of collecting blood from donors was recently given a boost with the purchase of a Genesis Rapid Seal II Tube sealer and Genesis Blood Collection Mixer, following a donation by Car City and Jeep 345. The sealer enables the blood bag tubing to be sealed in one second, and is compact enough to be carried to mobile blood drives. The mixer mixes blood with anti-coagulants in the blood bags during blood collection, can pre-set the amount of blood to be collected, and is also lightweight with maximum portability. It is also equipped with audible alarms to alert users, especially when the blood flow is slow. Dropping of ‘mad cow’ ban boosts blood donations Newly purchased equipment, such as the Genesis Rapid Seal II tube sealer, above left, and the Genesis Blood Collection Mixer, above right, is making blood collection faster and more efficient at the Cayman Islands Blood Bank. - Photo: Supplied Steve Tippetts giving blood for the first time in Cayman, in January this year. - Photo: Supplied 990 The number of units of blood donated to the blood bank since September’s lifting on the ‘mad cow’ ban. cayman compass 6 news N news WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 2024Visit us online or call 1-345-949-7280 Live your life. With insurance from Island Heritage, you can. NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky UK-bound passengers from the Cayman Islands, including at least five unaccompanied teenagers, found themselves stranded in the Bahamas for two days after their British Airways flight on Saturday was delayed due to technical problems. The teens – all returning to school in the UK after the Easter break – and the other passengers were told they needed to find their own accommodation in the Bahamas after the flight from Cayman to London, via Nassau, could not continue after the first leg of the journey. The flight had already been delayed at Owen Roberts International Airport for more than four hours before takeoff. It landed in Nassau in the early hours of Sunday morning. Suzie Dickson, a former Cayman Prep teacher, was also on the flight with her two children, and took the other kids on board under her wing. Speaking from the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau on Monday afternoon, where she and others were waiting to finally board their delayed flight, Dickson explained how she’d “scooped up” the teens at the airport and tried to get hotel rooms for them all. “If I had not been there, I don’t know what would have happened to them,” she said, as when they finally got to a hotel, they were told at the check-in desk that minors could not stay on their own in a hotel room. “There were eight of us by then,” she said. Luckily, one of the teens had turned 18 just a few days earlier, so he was allowed to check in to another room, and four slept in each room. Joanna Boxall, the mother of two of the children – Alex, 16, and Georgie, 13 – that Dickson scooped up, said it had been stressful to think of her children “just being abandoned at the airport” by British Airways. She had seen them off at Owen Roberts on Saturday afternoon. They and the other passengers who had boarded the plane were asked to deplane a while later, because of an apparent problem with the air-conditioning system. The passengers were allowed back on board over four hours later, and the plane took off for Nassau, though some said crew members were already indicating at that point that it was unlikely the flight would continue on to London. One passenger told the Compass he’d heard a “bit of a bang on the right-hand side” as the plane’s engines were powering up in Cayman. “They said it was something to do with the air conditioning,” he said. “Did the captain leave Cayman knowing he’d dump us unsupported in Nassau when we could have stayed in Cayman?” that passenger asked. “He said something about they only had two minutes before their departure window closed.” He and other passengers returned to the airport in Nassau Sunday afternoon to check in for a flight that they were told was scheduled to take off at 12:10am, but that flight was also delayed, until 5:30pm Monday. The parent connection Via a WhatsApp group of parents in Cayman with children in British boarding schools, Dickson had been able to let parents know that she was at the airport, once word went round that the flight was not likely to go any further than Nassau. She knew Boxall’s son and daughter already, and through descriptions of the others from their parents on the WhatsApp group, she was able to identify them and ensured they all got together once the plane arrived in the Bahamas. “An announcement came over the tannoy saying ‘book your own hotels’,” Dickson said. “We didn’t have [phone] data and we didn’t a clue where to book. I now had seven kids in my care. I’d never been to Nassau before. There was no help from BA. It was like we were on our own as soon as we got off the flight,” she said. “At 2:30 in the morning, we were still at the airport asking about hotels,” she said. Eventually, a ground crew member told the group that they had contacted the Comfort Suites and there was transport available to take them there. ‘No faith’ in BA When they arrived, they waited in a queue to check in for two hours, eventually getting into their beds or pull-out couches in their two rooms at 6am. “We have no faith left in British Airways. They’ve been appalling in every way, shape and form,” Dickson said. Another mother, Lesley Walker, said she considers it “irresponsible” of British Airways not to make arrangements for unaccompanied minors in such circumstances. “It beggars belief,” she said. “They must have a manifesto that shows them there are children on board. “My son is 16. He travels as an adult, but he would not be able to book a hotel room or pay for it.” The Compass reached out to British Airways for comment and was told: “We’ve been in contact with our customers to apologise for the delay to their flight. This was caused by a technical issue with the aircraft and our teams are working hard to get them on the way as quickly as possible. “The unfortunate delay is because of an unrelated technical issue which needs to be resolved before departure. We will cover accommodation and meal costs for customers.” The Compass has also enquired of British Airways what responsibility it has, if any, in circumstances where unaccompanied minors are forced to overnight in a layover airport due to delays with the airline, and is awaiting a response. Despite the frustrations and annoyances of the delayed flight, Dickson says they managed to “make lemonade out of lemons” and the group became fast friends, even managing a day trip to the waterpark at Atlantis while there. Suzie Dickson and her group of teenagers in Nassau. - Photo: Supplied The students from Cayman in Nassau. - Photo: Suzie Dickson Teens ‘abandoned’ at Nassau airport after BA flight delayed for 2 nights cayman compass 7 news N news WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 2024 Summer !"# $ % % # &'()(* +()(* + #, -# ,%. # # . / # - # / RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Thousands of Great Southern White butterflies have emerged en masse in Cayman, creating a snowy effect as they flutter around in their annual mating dance. The yearly explosion of the beautiful butterflies has garnered the attention of many, with the National Trust encouraging the community to enjoy the sight of the white- winged insects. Residents in Spotts, Bodden Town, and in parts of George Town, have been enjoying the thousands of fluttering insects. Catherine Childs, National Trust environmental programmes manager, welcomed the annual display. “Seeing these flurries of white butterflies like a tropical snowstorm makes us appreciate the paradise we call home,” she said. “Usually we drive along oblivious to the beauty around us, and this event helps bring us back into our surroundings, making us aware of the animals and plants that coexist with us.” Childs encouraged everyone to use native plants when landscaping. “[Also] leave as many trees on a parcel as possible when developing. These butterflies are part of a larger ecosystem that we can help to support so that future generations can enjoy a ‘Cayman snowstorm’ too,” she added. Thousands take flight The butterflies, also know as Ascia monuste, can be seen flying along roadsides, gardens, parks, and even on beaches, according to the National Trust. Capturing images of the butterflies can prove quite challenging as they dart away quickly when disturbed. “Even though this is a migratory species found throughout the tropical Americas, the individuals that are part of these population explosions are probably resident, Caymanian butterflies. So when you’re outside today, enjoy this stunning display of nature and appreciate the amazing natural heritage of our islands,” the Trust said in a Facebook post. The butterflies only have a life cycle of 14 days. The males are the whitest, while females are slightly off-white and lay their eggs in clusters. The tips of the antennae are baby blue and the butterflies usually have a marking on the tips of their wings. The Trust said some years the species can be found in very Great Southern Whites create snowy butterfly effect in Cayman A boy stands in the midst of Great Southern White butterflies. - Photo: File cayman compass 8 WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 2024 news N newslarge numbers, flying across the roadways in clouds, “almost like a snowstorm in the sunshine”. When they finish the mating dance, the females lay eggs on a native vine, Capparis flexuosa, which is known locally as ‘Raw Bones’ because its ivory white seeds emerge from pods with bright red pulp, the Trust said. “The caterpillars feed on the Raw Bones leaves and other plants in the mustard family while the butterflies feed on the nectar from many species of flowers, including saltwort, lantana, and verbena,” the Trust explained. The Great Southern White butterflies hail primarily from Florida, the southeast coast of the US and the Gulf of Mexico. Native plant and butterfly expert Ann Stafford told the Compass that large numbers of Great Southern White butterflies were spotted “nectaring on delightfully” scented Logwood flowers at Liguinea Circle in George Town. “It was magical! It was windy, so difficult to take still photos. I knew there would be hundreds of Ascia butterflies because the caterpillars had stripped the leaves of their plentiful main larval food plant Bloody Head-Raw Bones,” she added. This image shows a Great Southern White butterfly (Ascia monuste) on a flower. - Photo: Linda Cooper/National Trust The ‘Raw Bones’ plant plays host to the butterflies. – Photo: Ann Stafford Great Southern White butterfly larvae on Raw Bones on 9 April 2024. - Photo: Ann Stafford Great Southern White butterflies (Ascia monuste) nectaring on scented Logwood flowers on 17 April. - Photo: Ann Stafford cayman compass 9 WEEKLY, 19-25 APRIL 2024 news N newsNext >