One charged in bomb hoax

| 19/12/2013

(CNS) Updated: Following the arrest of two local men yesterday in connection with a hoax bomb alert last Saturday, which led to the evacuation of the Ritz-Carlton, Cayman and the Caribbean Club on Seven Mile Beach, one man has now been charged and the other released. The RCIPS said Thursday morning that officers from the Drugs & Serious Crime Task Force had arrested the two Caymanian men, aged 48 and 53, on suspicion of “bomb hoax” and both were in police custody as officers waited on a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions over charges. 53-year-old James Bernie Williams appeared in court Friday and the case is expected to be transmitted to the Grand Court in the New Year. 

The hoax had caused considerable disruption and police said that meetings were held this week to review the response to the threat.

“The hoax bomb threat resulted in considerable police and other emergency resources being deployed, as well as the ensuing police investigation that led to the arrest of the two men,” Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton said. “There was also significant impact to the two tourist establishments that had a combined guests of several hundred, not including staff. As a consequence, we take this very seriously and even though the threat was a hoax this should not diminish the seriousness of the crime that is punishable on conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars and to imprisonment for ten years pursuant to section 206  of the Penal Code (2010 Revision).”

Police, fire, EMC, 911 personnel and the management of the Ritz-Carlton and the Caribbean Club have since met to review how the bomb threat was handled as both the Ritz-Carlton and the Caribbean Club initiated a full scale evacuation.

“The meeting was intended to improve upon how police and other emergency staff can work with and compliment these arrangements,” an RCIPS spokesperson explained.

The police said the hotel staff at both venues reacted and implemented their emergency procedures preceding the arrival of emergency services and did so efficiently and effectively.

“It is clear both venues and their staff had comprehensive plans in place, trained their staff effectively and the weekend’s events demonstrated the effectiveness of their plans and staff training,” said Police Commissioner David Baines.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Hopefully this person will plead guilty, and spare the country any more draining of resources.    

  2. Anonymous says:

    Well they played their games and got themselves in serious trouble. Fools

  3. Anonymous says:

    Great to see they've started naming suspects by Nationality!

    I just hope this continues for ALL nationalities…

  4. Anonymous says:

    Well tenk q fadda Jesus mi yardie dem outta dis one. Cayman, you're on your own with this.

  5. Cheese Face says:

    That's several hundred tourists that are unlikely to return to our shores, Nice going arseholes.

  6. Anonymou says:

    Jail time….I doubt it.

  7. Hummmm says:

    Good lucky in jail!

  8. Cayman Mama says:

    Throw the book at them!  Christmas shoppers, stores, bars & restaurants were all inconvenienced and lost revenue over the stupidity of these two men.

     

  9. Anonymous says:

    Reading between the lines and from my own experience on the day, it sounds like the emergency services don't have a plan. I was directed from the Strand north on West Bay Road and past the Ritz, wouldn't the appropriate solution been to have sent me to the Esterley Tibbetts Hwy?