Cherry Grape Frozen Drinks 2.95 Small $ 3.75 Medium $ cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 Weekly, 28 June - 4 July 2024 Police launch gun amnesty Page 3 Crystal Caves in Tripadvisor top 5 world sites Page 5 Donovan Ebanks laid to rest Pages 12-13 After the flood Swamped neighbourhoods highlight national problem Pages 26-28Matinees (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $10.00 (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 fi lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. 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Compass Centre, Shedden Road, George Town, Cayman Islands SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 • Email: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky ADVERTISE WITH US: T: (345) 949-5111 • E: sales@compassmedia.ky • W: caymancompass.com weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Chance morning widely scattered thundershowers SEA STATE Moderate with a wave height of 3 to 5 feet. WINDS East to southeast at 10 to 15 knots 87°F HIGH 78°F LOW NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCH-GILLIES news in brief Jury selected for Bush rape trial A seven-member jury has been empanelled in the rape trial of former Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush. The seven jurors, along with three alternates, were selected on 27 June in the Grand Court after days of delay, during which legal arguments were heard in chambers between the lawyers and judge Roy Jones, who is presiding over the case. The jury has been told to return to court on Tuesday, 2 July, when the trial, which is scheduled to last 10 days, is expected to begin. Public Accounts Committee hearings moved to September The Public Accounts Committee has moved its hearings to September following issues with the scheduling of witnesses, the upcoming sitting of Parliament and the committee’s summer recess. This latest delay means that Cayman will have wait until the PAC’s 5 Sept. meeting to hear what plans government has to address Caymanian employment. The committee will be reviewing the Auditor General’s performance report, ‘Improving Employment Prospects for Caymanians (May 2024)’. Originally, the committee was scheduled to meet on 20 June, but that was postponed as there were not enough committee members for the hearing. The meeting was then moved to 27 June; however, a Parliament statement that morning announced the lengthy postponement. Delta to increase flights to Grand Cayman Delta Air Lines has become the latest airline to announce more airlift to the Cayman Islands, increasing the frequency of its Minneapolis-Saint Paul flights to Grand Cayman, starting this December. The airline’s communications office confirmed to the Cayman Compass on Tuesday that US-based Delta will be adding another weekly flight from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport to Owen Roberts International Airport from 20 Dec. This will bring the total number of services to Grand Cayman from the Twin Cities to three per week through mid-April. “We monitor customer demand and match capacity to where our customers want to fly to most. We believe this additional seasonal flight to Grand Cayman will better serve the needs of our customers,” the airline said. Truman Bodden Law School relocates The Truman Bodden Law School has moved from Monaco Towers to take up residence in Artemis House in George Town after nearly two decades at its original location. “Artemis House has undergone significant renovations in order to provide a custom fit for the Law School, with the move enabling the introduction of a fourth teaching room, much welcomed with the growing numbers of students in recent years,” the school said in a statement emailed to the Compass. In April, Caribbean Structured Cabling was awarded an $11,410 contract to conduct re-cabling and re-wiring of Artemis House to make it functional for the school. The school , which will officially open in its new home on Tuesday, 2 July, was formerly known as the Cayman Islands Law School. It was founded in George Town in 1982 “to provide legal training for Caymanian individuals seeking to enter the legal profession,” according to its profile. There are currently 91 students enrolled at the school. It is part of the Cayman Islands government’s Portfolio of Legal Affairs, headed by the attorney general. All of its lecturers are also members of the Cayman Islands Attorney General’s Chambers. Cadet Corps launches Fire Cadets programme Twelve young men and women are set to begin fire and first responder training, following the launch of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps’ Fire Cadets Detachment at the George Town Fire Station recently. The newest detachment follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Cadets Corps and the Uniformed services, which the Ministry of Home Affairs says aligns with the government’s goal to build resiliency and equip young Caymanians for public service. Colonel Errol Brathwaite, commandant of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, said, “The CICC is committed to providing meaningful and exciting training geared towards a brighter future for our young people nationwide. From picking up practical life-saving skills like first aid, to team building and developing leadership abilities, the Fire Cadets will gain many skills that they can take with them throughout life.” The new cadet detachment, which includes 10 males and two females, will be led by experienced instructors from both the Cadet Corps and the Fire Service, according to a 26 June statement from Home Affairs. Instructors will lead the new cadets through 12 months of training during which “they will benefit from a more advanced programme of training as compared to a regular infantry, sea, or band cadet, who do basic familiarisation training with the CIFS once annually”. Chief Fire Officer Randy Rankin said, during the apprenticeship programme, the cadets will learn about the Fire Service, operational equipment and safety procedures. “Today marks another milestone in our continued pursuit to make the lives of the people we serve better by not only being there in times of need but partnering with the CICC to mentor and develop future firefighters and leaders. Together we are building a stronger, safer future for our community,” Rankin said. Minister for Home Affairs Sabrina Turner, fifth from left, joins heads of the uniformed services and other government officials, along with the Fire Cadets, after a launch event held at the George Town Fire Station. - Photo: Supplied cayman compass 2 N news WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 2024DANA KAMPA dkampa@compassmedia.ky Citing concern about the increase in violent crimes involving illegal firearms, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is bringing back its gun amnesty campaign, last held in 2018. The programme allows people to surrender any illegal guns or ammunition without fear of facing prosecution. The RCIPS says it is working with partners to facilitate the programme, which will begin in July. Police Commissioner Kurt Walton asked members of the public to help make life safer in the Cayman Islands by surrendering illegal weapons. “If you have access to these guns, I am appealing to you to hand them over and make our islands a safer place for our children, our youth, our elderly and other vulnerable members of our community,” he said in a press release. Leading the campaign is Superintendent Brad Ebanks, who said in the 25 June release that officers hope the campaign will prove effective in protecting the public from the presence of illegal guns. ‘Reject the lifestyle‘ “We are giving these people an opportunity to reject a lifestyle that can end in only one of two ways: death or prison,” Ebanks said. By law, the only people who may have a gun in Grand Cayman are residents with consent from the commissioner of police, or in the Sister Islands with consent from the district commissioner. In the 2018 initiative, officers collected about 900 rounds of ammunition and 18 firearms, including 11 long guns and seven handguns, as well as a crossbow and flare gun. Walton, who was deputy commissioner at that time, called it “extremely successful” considering police were able to get some newer weapons rather than older, rusty rifles. Ebanks was also involved in the 2018 campaign. He shared his dedication to fighting illegal firearms after losing his stepson to a shooting. In the press release, he noted the importance of making guns and ammunition even a little less accessible to those who would use them to cause harm. The amnesty comes four months after seven people were injured in a shooting when a gunman opened fire at the Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay, during a football match. No one has been charged in relation to that shooting. Over the past couple of years, there have been numerous armed robberies in Grand Cayman, raising alarm among local residents and business owners. Following the 25 Feb. football stadium shooting, at a public meeting in West Bay, Walton told attendees police were aware of the existence of 90 firearms that had been involved in crimes in the Cayman Islands. In their press release announcing the amnesty, police noted efforts this year to crack down on illegal firearm possession. Ebanks said officers have seized a dozen illegal firearms and arrested eight people for possession so far in 2024. Legislators have also turned their attention to firearms, proposing amendments to legislation that would outlaw 3D-printed guns and assembly kits. Still, management of these illicit weapons remains a region-wide challenge. A recent Cayman Compass feature on gun trafficking found the Caribbean is facing a flow of guns from the United States that is “almost impossible to stop”. How to participate Police and partners are offering four options for safely surrendering weapons. Gun owners can drop off their unloaded weapons between 7am and 7pm daily to the designated drop boxes at police stations in West Bay, Bodden Town and Little Cayman. “Any ammunition should be removed from the gun and packed separately, also in paper or plastic,” the release said. “The gun itself should be wrapped in paper or a plastic bag and taped securely.” To transport firearms for surrender, people should keep weapons unloaded and safely stored in the trunk of the car, out of reach of any riders, and drive to the nearest drop-off location. To make arrangements to bring guns to the George Town, Cayman Brac or East End police stations, RCIPS said people should call 936-8026 as there are no drop boxes in those locations. Community members can call the same number to arrange a collection. For those concerned about directly surrendering their weapons, police said they can opt to hand them over to a “trusted third party”, including participating pastors, elected officials and community leaders. Participants can find details at www.rcips.ky/gunamnesty. Ebanks cautioned gun owners to abide by the amnesty guidelines or potentially face a minimum 10-year sentence for illegal possession. “I know there are persons out there that are in possession of unlicensed firearms who have realised, ‘This is not a good idea,’” he said. “This is now your opportunity to do the right thing and walk away.” The RCIPS is offering four options for people to surrender illegal guns and ammunition without consequence. - Photo: RCIPS Police announce gun amnesty From left, then RCIPS Deputy Commissioner Kurt Walton and Superintendent Brad Ebanks display the firearms taken during the June 2018 gun amnesty programme. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay 1 July marks the beginning of a month-long gun amnesty campaign led by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. - Photo: RCIPS cayman compass 3 news N news WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 20241234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Discarded (4-3) 5 Severe decline in trade (5) 8 Being contested (2,7) 9 Imitate (3) 10 Bung (4) 12 African city, enemy of Rome (8) 14 Respectable (6) 15 Shade of meaning (6) 17 Whimsical (8) 18 Cease (4) 21 Unreturnable tennis service (3) 22 Disproportion (9) 24 Looking dirty and shabby (5) 25 Ludicrous (7) DOWN 1 Hard but brittle (5) 2 Mournful (3) 3 Drive out (4) 4 Sparing (6) 5 Wide range (8) 6 Face to face with (2,7) 7 Come before (7) 11 Indifference (9) 13 Boundless amount (8) 14 To cheat (7) 16 Move ponderously (6) 19 Chessman, other than pawn (5) 20 With the addition of (4) 23 Catch in wrongdoing (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17669 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 17669 ACROSS: 1 Cast-off, 5 Slump, 8 In dispute, 9 Ape, 10 Plug, 12 Carthage, 14 Decent, 15 Nuance, 17 Fanciful, 18 Stop, 21 Ace, 22 Imbalance, 24 Dingy, 25 Risible. DOWN: 1 Crisp, 2 Sad, 3 Oust, 4 Frugal, 5 Spectrum, 6 Up against, 7 Precede, 11 Unconcern, 13 Infinity, 14 Defraud, 16 Lumber, 19 Piece, 20 Plus, 23 Nab. What they’re saying Online Fewer than 4% of applicants prevail as police recruits It will be a long haul, I guess, but I believe this is a good start. We need more locals in this type of work. Local enforcers on duty is a way to go, specially in a small country like Cayman. Locals represents the true and genuine culture and we need to maintain this here in Cayman. Dion Landscaper The RCIPS is no longer a Caymanian service, and you will only see a few Caymanians left, and soon they will be gone. The few that are hired will not remain in the service too long because they get pushed out and discouraged. It’s a sad situation, but that’s what it is. Burmon Scott They need to be educated from school, but more importantly, they need role models. From primary school, they need the police to visit and motivate our youth to be the ones to make a difference in their communities. Too many officers are autocratic when dealing with the public and that leaves our children with a dim view of their important role in our society. Lilly Jane May the ‘fewer than 4%’ protect and serve with distinction. Neriah LeBlanc I want to know what percentage was Caymanians. Jerrin Carter New US rules for dogs could be ‘catastrophic’ for Cayman To me, it makes no sense whatsoever that we’re sending dogs overseas. The US has thousands of unwanted dogs. If Cayman cannot act in a responsible way towards domestic pets, then euthanasia is the logical answer. No dog should be subjected to life in a cage! Fiona F. Please offer free spay; pay $100 cash to each dog owner, for the dog brought in for a free spay. If $100 is not enough, offer $200. Plus free spay. Problem solved! Debra W. It would be great if government sponsored free spay/neuter programmes to prevent the huge number of homeless pups on island. kristabevardo We should be sterilising all dogs on this island. Problem solved. tomnewton Developers pursue West Bay affordable housing What is the developer’s definition of ‘affordable’ and for whom? Natasha-Gillian Bunting Neither the developers nor our illustrious government and their relevant department(s), like Planning, know or care what’s happening to our people. Do you think they even know where this site is? I hope and pray that on Election Day 2025, God willing, we will see a positive change in leadership of these islands. God help us. We need it. Think before you vote! Darlene Glidden Do the developers have to do public consultation? Do they really know their ‘buyers’? Have they talked to them/know their financial situations – the young Caymanians who can’t afford to get a foot in the housing market? Juliet Pilgrim Are they apartments or condos? What Caymanians need are homes they can buy to build equity. Apartments don’t really help. Also, what would they rent for in order to pay for the parking stacker? Anne Briggs Whilst I truly believe that affordable housing is definitely needed, I am not sure that the stacked parking thing is a feasible idea here. Maybe if the government would give duty concessions to developers for projects such as these we could get some more built, instead of more multi-million- dollar condos that will sit vacant for most of the year. Giles Charlton-Jones It seems like they are doing an act of charity. Let’s see if the prices are as modest as the explanation. Javier Jouz It would be helpful for the government/Central Planning Authority to produce an ‘affordable housing’ zone along with acceptable density and parking requirements. It is ridiculous that a developer acquires land with the intent to build, only to learn that the land cannot be used for the use. I understand variations require consultation and consideration. In an environment where there are loads of developers looking to build to charge less rent, the only solution is to increase density on sites and look to either reduce parking or go up. Opinion G. Wild banana orchid blooms for the world at Smithsonian Gardens These are the same orchids that are getting mowed down and destroyed right, left and centre for a road or concrete building. There are no conservation efforts to save these disappearing species outside of the Botanic Park. And to add insult to injury, these are just one kind out of many different species of native plants that are under serious threat of extinction in the Cayman Islands, should our government gut the National Conservation Council. One day we will have to go to Washington just to see our own national flower because our leaders cared more about money than protecting our environment and the hidden gems within. Jared Bush ‘Disposable’ Honda Fit a ‘clear and present danger’ to Cayman motorists The car is not the issue. The drivers are. Most of the people driving these cars should not even have a driver’s licence. How about we start by way of making our licensing process more rigorous. Our driving requirements are bare minimum and it needs to change. capnk780 It’s not Honda Fits that are the problem. It’s the drivers of the Fits. just_rags From reading this article, it sounds to me that the problem is the imported Honda Fits. The easiest solution to that problem is: Stop importing vehicles from Japan. Period. Yet sadly, there’s several other factors that come into play when it comes to the number of accidents seen, not just the Japanese imported vehicles: 1) the number of vehicles on Cayman roads in general; 2) drivers who don’t know how to drive; 3) Cayman roads have become more confusing for said drivers who don’t know how to drive. It’s like we are deliberately fixing our roads to make them more confusing for many drivers, which in turn causes the number of accidents seen. One example is the roundabouts – the Camana Bay and the Cayman National roundabouts; and 4) the fact that many drivers on island have their licences and still have not a clue of that thing called an indicator. Kjulian26 J. I think the lack of vehicle safety standards for Cayman needs to be reviewed against the car rental business. I often rent cars when I visit Grand Cayman and have never given any thoughts as to how safe the car is. I even question the North American cars that I rent. Are they from a ‘rest-of-the-world’ assembly line as well? Paul N. I said it 100 times already and I will say it again. Honda Fit needs a recall. Dasmin Douglas “Meeting safety standards” isn't a valid argument. 90% of drivers on island don't meet the brain cell requirement to operate a motor vehicle, let alone transport and be responsible for the lives of others. s._m_.q Developer defends 10-storey George Town complex amid zoning concerns The government must put the general needs of citizens first before supporting any further development. The transient populations only exist for short periods of time and most of their earnings are sent out of the country. Further development puts more strain on the economy for short- term gains. Betty Ebanks So what about the infrastructure? The roads are already unbearable around George Town. One GT isn’t even open yet but I guarantee that will put even more pressure on the traffic flow in the town centre. You can’t seriously be suggesting another 10-storey complex!? Utter madness. CUC is threatening power cuts because the grid infrastructure hasn’t kept up to date with runaway construction. Just stop. Please. Claire Fletcher+ cayman compass 4 news N news WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 2024WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 2024RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s Crystal Caves has won Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice 2024 award as the fifth top attraction in the world, outranking the likes of the Colosseum in Rome and Louvre Museum in Paris. Seven Mile Beach also landed a top award among the ‘Best of the Best’ beaches in the world, ranking 15th in the traveller-led awards announced this week. The Travellers’ Choice Awards ‘Best of the Best’ title celebrates “the highest level of excellence in travel”, the popular travel review- driven site stated. “It’s awarded to those who receive a high volume of above- and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of our 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this milestone,” Tripadvisor said of the awards. No small feat Cayman Crystal Caves, located in North Side, is now ranked among the top attractions in the world, including the Empire State Building in New York, which topped the list, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which came in second. Archie Whittaker, front of house manager at Cayman Crystal Caves, says being ranked among such famous attractions feels like a dream. “To see that we have literally ranked top five of the world under some of, in my opinion, the most amazing attractions worldwide, we are ecstatically excited to be chosen. To be number five in the world and coming from the uniqueness of our little Cayman Islands is actually exceptionally special,” Whittaker said. Reopened in 2022 under new management, the caves have fast become a draw for tourists from around the world who flock to the Old Man Bay site. Whittaker said the award is not the result of a single act, but a team effort at the caves. “There’s no ‘I’, it’s all about ‘we’. Everything that this has gotten us so far has all been a collective effort of our amazing team. We’re small and united in one and that’s what happens when you have a team that everyone is on the same page,” he said. Cayman’s appeal One reviewer on the Tripadvisor site posted, “We had a great time on our tour of the Crystal Caves. It was a great change of pace activity after a week on the beach”. Reviews like this and the more than 3,000 others helped earn the team at Crystal Caves the accolade. Tripadvisor, in its introduction of the Cayman Crystal Caves, said, at the site “friendly guides will tell you all about the geological site” and visitors can admire the stunning limestone formations and lush vegetation while learning how the caves were created. “This unique, family-friendly activity is perfect for a break from the beach. Just remember to wear water shoes during your visit,” it said. Whittaker said from 2023 to now, there have been 79,844 visitors at the caves. He said the team at the caves have added new elements to the experience at the popular attraction, which he believes gave the site an extra nod of approval. There is a revamped restaurant and background information posted at the location that briefs visitors on ownership of the caves and the community’s historical ties to the area. Whittaker added that they have also introduced a new ‘dig’ area called ‘Sandy Creek’ Mining Company at the location at which customers can purchase packages with a mix of rocks, gemstone and crystals to ‘mine’. “Families can come in and mine for gemstones and crystals, which is a cross selection of collections from around the world that are in our Sandy [Creek] Mining Company, which is amazing. We launched that last summer for summer camp and it’s been a great hit,” he said. He said they have also introduced evening attractions like dusk to dark tours, which have attracted more visitors to the caves. Heavenly beach As for Cayman’s stunning Seven Mile Beach, one Tripadvisor reviewer said, “This place is heaven when it comes to the water and sand. Clear, aqua blue waters for as far as the eye can see. The sand is clean, fine, and not hot. There did not seem to be any shells where we were, but the dried coral that washed up was really neat.” Cayman Islands Tourism Association President Troy Leacock expressed excitement at the latest awards. “It’s great to see Tripadvisor recognising and awarding our attractions. Amazing attractions, wonderful people and world-class service make Cayman a ‘Best of the Best’ traveller destination,” he said. Crystal Caves in Tripadvisor’s top 5 world attractions “To be number five in the world and coming from the uniqueness of our little Cayman Islands is actually exceptionally special.” Archie Whittaker, front of house manager, Cayman Crystal Caves 79,844 The number of people who have visited North Side’s Crystal Caves since 2023 North Side's Crystal Caves attraction is now ranked in a top 5 list that includes the Empire State Building in New York and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. - Photo: File cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 2024 5 The stalactite and stalagmite crystal structures and otherworldly formations made by single drops of water and the slow passage of time are an exciting draw for travellers. – Photo: Heather Holt Photography/Cayman Crystal CavesJAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The fast action of staff at a Grand Cayman hotel helped saved the lives of three tourists in separate incidents over the past two months. In one case, a drowning man was fished from a swimming pool and given CPR. In another incident, an elderly tourist had to be helped out of the water and given mouth-to- mouth. And, on a third occasion, an American visitor, who had collapsed and was suffering from lack of oxygen, was revived and recovered in time to celebrate his 60th birthday at the hotel. All of those incidents could have proved fatal but for the intervention of the Grand Cayman Marriott resort’s loss prevention team, said general manager Hermes Cuello. The stories provide an optimistic counterpoint to worrying statistics about rising numbers of deaths in Cayman’s waters, particularly among tourists. At least six people have died so far this year in ‘water-related deaths’. Cayman has one of the highest drowning rates in the world, according to a data research project involving the island’s forensic pathologist, local doctors and the Royal Lifesaving Society of the Cayman Islands. There were a total of 84 deaths in the waters around the Cayman Islands in the decade up to the end of 2021. Nearly half involved people over 60. Cuello said hoteliers were very much aware of the threats to tourists even in relatively benign conditions. He puts the high number of incidents down to the age demographic of many of Cayman’s tourists. But he believes training and vigilance can help ensure a safe vacation, even for people with health problems. “Over the years in the hotels we go through these type of situations but to have three in a short space of time like this is very unusual,” he said. “We are very proactive in making sure the staff have the training and the awareness of what can happen. “Without intervention from this team, all these incidents could have been fatal.” ‘Training kicked in’ Latoya Mcleod, who was involved in two of the rescues, said she had just let her training kick in and focused on the job at hand. In the first instance, she was called to a neighbouring condo complex, where a man had been pulled from the pool, having collapsed and been under the water for three minutes. Amid frantic scenes, she performed CPR and he had recovered enough to breathe on his own by the time the ambulance arrived. Less than a month later, she was back in action again, this time delivering rescue breaths to a 90-year-old man who had got into trouble while swimming close to the hotel. “I asked him when last he had swam and he said it had been a long time,” she said, highlighting a common issue with tourists that get into difficulties in Cayman’s waters. Shortly after that, Rico Gotiangco was called to a ‘code blue’ by the Marriott’s pool, where a man had collapsed and was gasping for breath and losing oxygen as his skin drained of colour. After delivering CPR, Gotiangco said he faced a tense night without sleep as he waited to hear if his efforts had been successful. “I was very happy to get a call from my manager that he was okay. He came back to the hotel and celebrated his 60th birthday.” For Lascelles Douglas, who was also involved in the rescue, the most satisfying thing is to see a guest he has helped come back to enjoy their holiday. “I was involved in another rescue many years ago at another hotel and I still receive emails from the boy’s family,” he said. Cuello said the Marriott has invested in training for its loss prevention officers to ensure they are ready for anything. The job involves everything from in-house security, recovering lost property, accident and fire prevention, and safety. “Sometimes they are just giving someone back a phone or a wallet, but in these cases they are giving them back years of their life,” added Cuello. Hotel staff help save lives of three tourists The Marriott’s loss prevention team was involved in three separate rescues over the past two months. - Photo: James Whittaker The Grand Cayman Marriott Resort - Photo: File cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 2024 6Introducing Cayman’s family album Explore Cayman life since 1965 through photos you have never seen Presented by With the generous support of our project partners Water Authority - Cayman “Supplier’s of the World’s Most Popular Drink” cayman compass 7 WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 2024ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky A Grand Court jury has acquitted Bryan Roy Welcome of murder in relation to a heated verbal confrontation that ended with Welcome running over and killing former customer Omar Ryan. Welcome was brought to tears on Thursday, 20 June, following the unanimous not-guilty verdict on murder. The jury was also given an option of convicting on an alternate charge of manslaughter, which they rejected. Welcome accepted that he was the driver who struck and killed Ryan on the evening of 8 July 2023 but stated at the time he was in fear for his life and acted in self-defence. As the owner of People’s Choice Grocery, Welcome had supplied produce on credit to Ryan every week for four years. However, the relationship between the men soured after Ryan claimed he had been sold spoiled items, which eventually led to him confronting Welcome. An unpaid $50 debt During the trial, it came to light that Ryan had incurred $350 worth of debt for items connected to two separate orders. The larger of the two orders, which was worth $300, is said to have comprised spoiled produce and was written off by Welcome, leaving a balance of $50, which Ryan never paid. The events of 8 July that led up to Ryan’s death were captured on CCTV and played for the jury. In the first set of video clips, which did not have any accompanying audio, Welcome could be seen delivering a case of water to an elderly customer at a shopping plaza along Shedden Road, George Town. While delivering the case of water, Welcome came upon Ryan. During a short greeting, Welcome said he asked for the outstanding $50 in jest, thinking nothing of it as the two parted ways. However, moments after the brief encounter, the video showed Ryan using his Honda Stepwgn to block Welcome’s car, and confronting him. In the video, Ryan could be seen acting in an aggressive manner and waving his hands back and forth as he occasionally pointed towards Welcome. The jury was told that eventually Ryan drove off. Welcome left a short time later, driving his car, an Audi A3, in the opposite direction. However, the video showed that Ryan then turned his vehicle around and began chasing Welcome towards his warehouse in Industrial Park. Heated dispute ends in death The CCTV footage showed the men arriving at the warehouse. As both vehicles stopped in the middle of the parking lot, Ryan exited his vehicle and began shouting and making indiscernible gestures towards Welcome’s vehicle. A few seconds later, Welcome can be seen reversing his car and repositioning it directly in line with Ryan. The revving of the Audi A3 can then be heard, followed by high-pitched screeching of tyres ending with a thud, as Welcome struck Ryan, who was standing near the right front bumper of the Stepwgn. After striking Ryan, Welcome continued to drive, dragging him under the vehicle to the back of the Stepwgn. He then ran over him and drove back towards the entrance of the complex and out of the camera’s line of sight. Ryan, who went by the name ‘Blacks’, is seen struggling to get to his feet and staggering to the rear of his Stepwgn, where he collapsed once again. “Mi wi kill yuh [expletive],” Welcome could be heard shouting, as he returned to the scene on foot. “Blacks, mi tell yuh fi give me [expletive] money, and all now,” Welcome again shouted as he approached Ryan. “Yu ah fahla mi like ah me owe yuh money, yuh a eedeyat?” shouted Welcome, as he kicked Ryan in the head. As bystanders quickly rushed over, one asked Welcome what was happening, to which he replied, “Di man ah fahla mi round like mi owe him money. Mi tell him fi leggo mi money.” ‘I was in fear for my life’ During the trial, Welcome told the court that the events of that evening left him in fear for his life, and ultimately caused him to act in self-defence. “I was in shock and confused. I’m still in shock, I’m still confused,” Welcome told the jury. “I still cannot figure out why he came to the warehouse. I believed he came to the warehouse to kill me or do me harm, and my son.” While being questioned by his attorney Dean George, KC, Welcome said he could not see what was in Ryan’s hand due to the lighting at the time and became fearful that he was in possession of a gun. “At the time, I was sure he had a gun, and I just wanted to get out of there. I was in fear for my life and my son’s life,” he said. Welcome said he didn’t mean to harm or kill Ryan, even though he could be heard telling Ryan he would kill him, as he lay dying on the ground. Driver who ran over man acquitted of murder “I believed he came to the warehouse to kill me or do me harm, and my son.” Bryan Roy Welcome, speaking about Omar Ryan, whom he admitted driving over. The location on Shedden Road, George Town where Omar Ryan was killed on 8 July 2023. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass news N news WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 2024 8Check that your insurance policies are up-to-date, so you’re covered in the event you need to make a claim. IT’S HURRICANE SEASON. BE PREPARED. Visit us online or call +1 345 949 7280 RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky When Emma Evans was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2020, she thought her chances of ever becoming a mother were between slim to none, but four years later the George Town resident is relishing moments of motherhood with her baby Jasper. “He truly is my miracle baby,” Evans said as she cuddled her son during a 25 June interview with the Cayman Compass. In less than four months, the mum-of-one is set to mark her child’s first birthday and four years of being cancer-free. How it all started Evans told of being locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic and having to deal with her cancer diagnosis and treatment on her own. She was diagnosed following a routine pap smear, after Health Services Authority Dr. Karina Palmer-Forde found an abnormality and investigated further. Evans said she believes that additional check saved her life. It was through her LEEP procedure, which is when doctors remove abnormal tissue from the cervix and test it for cancer, that they discovered her tumour. She said she was shaken when she received her cancer diagnosis, which came at a time when most of the world was in lockdown. Being thousands of miles away from her family in the UK made the process very difficult. “I would call my mum in the middle of the night crying and panicking,” she said, adding that “it was a bit surreal, to be honest, because as soon as you hear you’ve got cancer, you think you’re going to die. You don’t really know what’s going to happen.” Being able to have a baby was the furthest thought from her mind at the time, she said, since she was not sure if she would need chemotherapy or radiation. “My first, kind of, initial thing was to go into survival mode, really,” she said. She said she was grateful for the support from her team at the Department of Child and Family Services, where she worked at the time, as they gave her the strength she needed to fight. When she flew to Miami for her first major procedure, they saw her off at the airport and one of her colleagues would send her relatives in Miami to the hospital to visit her. “My colleague from work sent her sister around with goodies and stuff for me so that was really nice, and then all my friends and my colleagues were bringing me stuff every day,” she said, adding that, though she was in pain, those extra efforts helped with her healing. Tricky treatment Dr. Peter Sipos, consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist, later took charge of Evans’s case. He said, at the time, his goal was to ensure she had every chance at survival. He was also hopeful that she would be able to have children when she wanted, but “to be entirely honest, at initial assessment, we thought that’s probably not an option”, he said. Given the complexity of her case, in the beginning, with her cancer procedures, he knew pregnancy was a challenge. “It was quite an undertaking for us to devise her care in a way that [it] is possible for her to have what she has now achieved. But also it is something very remarkable that she has done. I have seen her through this process over years,” he said. Sipos lauded Evans’s resilience over the four years of treatments. “She has done ... remarkably well, and it was just amazing for us to see how well she coped with all that,” he said. For a patient to have fertility- preservative treatment of gynecological cancers in general, Sipos said, there has to be a plan to, firstly, keep the ability to become pregnant and, secondly, to ensure the treatment is safe and the patient “will recover or at least have the best chance of becoming cancer free”. In Evans’s case, he said, though complex, they were able to achieve both. It was during her cancer battle that Evans met and fell in love with her husband Kerry Powell. After crossing her cancer hurdles, attention turned next to Evans’s pregnancy plan. Due to removal of her cervix, getting pregnant naturally was not possible so together the couple embarked on in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Sipos said, after all the cervical procedures, Evans had to undergo a rare transabdominal cerclage surgery to be able to safely carry her baby. Her pregnancy also had to be timed with her final cancer treatment. Evans said when her pregnancy was confirmed, she was in disbelief. “I was really scared. I knew the pregnancy probably wasn’t going to be as straightforward as most pregnancies,” she said, adding that she had every faith that she was in good hands. Sipos, who managed Evans’s treatment throughout, also delivered baby Jasper, a satisfying feeling for him at the end of a long journey. Looking ahead Now, eight separate surgeries, both locally and overseas, and 107 doctor visits later, the 37-year-old first-time mum says she is grateful for the medical team at Health Services Authority who helped her through the worst period in her life. “I try and practise gratitude every day anyway because, I think, nowadays, people get so tied up in complaining about this and about that and seeing the negative. But turning the lens inward, and looking at what we do have, completely changes our lives,” she said. Even as she battled cancer, Evans did not give up on her dreams of getting her PhD in social work, and today she is on the final stretch to achieving that. Looking back on her journey, Evans said all of it was worth it in the end, because today she is alive and she has been blessed with a healthy, happy baby. “I know there’s so many people that haven’t been as lucky as me or haven’t had the same treatment. I am forever grateful to the doctors, the universe and the Cayman Islands,” she said. Both Evans and Sipos urged women in the community to do regular checks for cancer as it could mean the difference between life and death. With her son nestled safely in her arms, Evans said she is looking forward to the next big challenge, that of being a mother. Cancer survivor marks milestone with ‘miracle baby’ “I was really scared. I knew the pregnancy probably wasn’t going to be as straightforward as most pregnancies.” Emma Evans Emma Evans and her ‘miracle’ baby Jasper. - Photo: Reshma Ragoonath cayman compass 9 news N news WEEKLY, 28 JUNE - 4 JULY 2024Next >