Curfew lifted on the Sisters

(CNS): With the police station on Cayman Brac destroyed in the storm this weekend, police operations on the island will be run from a temporary headquarters at the University College of the Cayman Islands. Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Ennis, representing Gold Command on Cayman Brac, said that this should be set up shortly. He also said that the curfew on the islands is now lifted.

Speaking to CNS Monday, he said that there had been no reported crimes in the aftermath of Hurricane Paloma and he was satisfied that the people on the Sister Islands were law abiding and some had even called to ask what they could do to help the police.

While the curfew is now lifted, Ennis said that this would be under constant review. Once reconstruction of the island begins there would be new people on the island and they were going to be very proactive with law enforcement. "The island is very vulnerable at this stage and there may be people who would take advantage of this vulnerability," he explained.

Seven additional police officers flew in from Grand Cayman to the Brac. He said the two officers on Little Cayman were assessing the needs there. He had already made several visits to the island and there did not appear any need for additional officers. However, they would do rotations to give the Little Cayman police officers a break.

The two police vessels, the new Defender and the Protector, are both on the Brac patroling and assisting with operational supplies and welfare for the police officers. The vessels would also assist residents if necessary, Ennis said.

"We’re here to support the Sister Islands operations essential to policing. We’re all in this together," he said.

All law enforcement agencies – police, customs and immigration – are monitoring who travels to the Sister Islands at this time. "We’re a small territory and domestic law enforcement agencies all work together," Ennis said.

A Gold Command control centre, chaired by Police Commissioner David George, had been set up on Grand Cayman which met twice daily and was monitoring and responding to the needs of the Sister Islands. While on island, Ennis said he had been  bringing the rest of the control centre up to speed via conference calls. Due to return to Grand Cayman Monday evening, he said that  the command leaders would be Chief Inspector Adrian Barnett, who is filling in for Chief Inspector Patrick Beersingh to head the Brac operations, and Detective Inspector Kim Evans.

"I’m very satisfied with the job that they’re doing. All of the Brac and Little Cayman officers are doing a fabulous job under very extreme and difficult circumstances," Ennis said.