Jack: ‘Glad’ Bridger came
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, 11 March, the governor said that while mistakes had been made during Operation Tempura the investigation had succeeded in clearing the names of people who were unjustly accused of wrongdoing. “Many of us in the Cayman Islands – including myself – have acknowledged that some mistakes were made later on, as unfortunately sometimes happens with the best of intentions.”
He said he believed the Caymanian people wanted to see a better police force. "I am confident many people in the community will continue to support the actions taken by the acting commissioner of police to achieve that important national goal,” he said.
He noted that while Operation Tempura is winding down there was another report to consider and that the police operation would continue. “We must do so to provide justice for this community and for the RCIPS. The Cayman Islands’ reputation for integrity is even more important given the current economic pressures,” Governor Jack said.
“I want to reassure people who provided information to us, confidentially, that their claims have been carefully considered, and each one will be dealt with appropriately. In taking these investigations forward, I have also asked the acting commissioner and the Portfolio of Internal Affairs to look carefully at the financing arrangements to ensure that, in these difficult economic times, we are receiving the best possible value for money.”
He repeated Smith’s announcement that there will be a new senior investigating officer of this second phase investigation, known as Operation Cealt, but did not name anyone or state where the new SIO would be from.
However, he said there was a commitment to taking action against police officers who did not meet what were the high standards of the majority. “We equally remain determined to sort out key systems in the RCIPS that are not working well, so that the public can have greater confidence in their police service,” the governor added.
Category: Headline News
I concur with "whodatis" …profound and suscinct. True in every detail.
The chronology of that fateful morning on the London Underground is telling.
One of that team of bunglers, coverup artists, passing off as a protector who remains unrepentant is now in our midst. May God save us…
I will ask…why should iallow a cobbler to serve as a neurosurgeon ?
A few words of advice to Jack – there are occasions when it is better to keep quiet rather than open one’s mouth and confirm exactly how stupid one is. Just stunning. One must question why Jack always backs up Bridger (who I suspect will have to be driven to the airport as I doubt he knows his own way there).
I find it laughable that the London Met sent this b.s. team down to Cayman to investigate "corruption" within the RCIPS which so far has uncovered nothing more than a mere allegation of someone being let off on a drunk driving charge!!
How dare UK police and or judicial branches accuse us of gross corruption?!
Kindly consider the following…
When an RCIPS officer or team becomes responsible for;
Then perhaps I may be more willing to take these investigations seriously.
The London Metropolitan Police along with our current Governor is one big hypocritical JOKE!!
My fellow Caymanians, it disheartens me to witness the all too obedient attitude that we have in regards to anything that Britain throws our way…we are far more loyal and fearful British citizens than the mainland Brits themselves!! This, my friends, is not by accident and it only serves to hold us down as a people.
Furthermore, there are obviously no rewards from this attitude as we now read daily of PM Gordon Brown’s slanderous remarks towards us as being a notorious "tax haven" in a blatant attempt to hang us out to dry…yes us – his and the Queen’s "loyal subjects"!!
Wake up my fellow Caymanians…wake up!!
Of course there is corruption here just like everywhere else, the question is how bad is it and how high up the chain it goes. I for one know of a drug dealer that was shot about a 1000 feet from the West Bay Police Station in the quiet of night but no one at the Station heard the shot. Drug dealers account for a high percentage of unsolved murders here and even if some people agree to let them kill each other there is a message being sent here. What is happening is that the dealer against dealer crimes is getting worse becausethey all figure they won’t get caught because no one cares. I am sure there is financial corruption here as well but i am not sure how that equates to the RCIP. Corruption even in it’s pettiest form is still corruption. People expect a huge outcome from this investigation because of the money and time spent but the endresult will problably shock most. Even so these are people who we should be able to trust, yes they are still human but they should be setting a better example. For example if a Police officer lets a friend off a traffic offense that is corruption.
Well I for one do not agree with the Governor’s observation, “I feel sure that many of the people who came forward with information are glad that Martin Bridger came to the Cayman Islands,” as he well knows.
There currently seems to be blatant double standards regarding the conduct of former Commissioner Stuart Kernohan and the current SIO.
Both engaged In what my former employer has referred to as operations outside the ‘mainstream’ of law enforcement but one has been penalised, the other given an official pat on the back.
In Mr Bridger’s case a judge has ruled his actions, and those of his deputy who will now apparently take over command of both operations, were ruled unlawful.
In Mr Kernohan’s case no evidence has ever been produced to suggest that his actions were not in the best interests of both the RCIPS and the Cayman Islands in general.
Mr Bridger’s actions, aided by his deputy, have led to the Cayman Islands facing massive legal bills from two people wrongfully arrested, something unheard of during Mr Kernohan’s time as Commissioner.
Mr Bridger is also currently the subject of a number of complaints, with his conduct apparently due to be the subject of a question in Parliament – again things unheard of in the past.
"the investigation had succeeded in clearing the names of people who were unjustly accused of wrongdoing"
What about the people who have had their reputations, careers and lives ruined by this team, unjustly! John Jones and Stuart Kernohan to name just two. They did nothing wrong and yet have been destroyed by innuendo, gossip and rumour. This has been a circus where the only thing funny is that it has been a comedy of errors.
CLOWNS!
p.s editing has incorrectly changed my previous near identical submission, to the jack off comment. I did not write that and disassociate myself from it.
Phil.
Word is that although Martin Bridger may be heading back to the wet, cold and bitter UK, he will be taking up a position at the FCO where he will accompany Richard Ballentyne, both of whom will continue to ¨SCEW CAYMAN OVER AND OVER AGAIN ¨
NOT SURPRISING !!!!!
I agree with the writer who says it is sad when persons cannot climb down and say "I erred." Boy, they will talk all sorts of foolishness to avoid and evade the fact of how terribly wrong they have been and how much wasted finances and shame they have cost the Country!
The adolesent comments about the name of the Governor tell more about the contributors than make an effective argument about the RCIP corruption probe.
The difficulty seems to be gathering court worthy evidence and constructing effective cases to actually prosecute corrupt individuals.
I for one was optimistic with the probe into corruption within the Cayman Islands and am disappointed with the outcome thus far.
Does anyone believe there is corruption here?
Haven’t we be waiting for all of these months to find out what exactly they have been invesigating in Operation Tempura ? They said it had nothing to do with the Net News allegations and nothing to do with the charges agaisnt Rudolph Dixon. They said all would be made clear eventually. And now it’s winding down with Mr Bridger slipping away? Surely they can tell us now then exactly what this large police team has spent 18 months and millions of dollars investigating.
Does anyone want to join the "Lets get Jack Off" (the Island) campaign?
I’ve been thinking for some time now, what is the deal with this Governor? Can someone try filling me in?!
While it may be reasonable to have called an outside investigation with which complaints in respect of RCIP could be registered, I do not think any right-thinking person could say that they are glad that Mr. Bridger in particular came in view of his conduct of the investigation. The Governor keeps looking for justifications for the unjustifiable. It is sad when persons cannot climb down and say "I erred".
Governor Jack can you please give us the Caymanian people something more to cheer about and pack your bag and leave hand in hand with Bridger, could you tell us what your involvement in this major fiasco was and lastly is there something that Bridger is covering up for you, thus the reason you continue to pat him on the back and say good job chap and ignore the findings of the Chief Justice?????
If the millions that was wasted on almost two years of investigations which has not yet provided any tangible results was spent on training our officers how to properly investigate cases and more proactive policing we would be reaping the benefits now.
Mr Smith please hire someone young to investigate the other allegations just in case we take this long again at least he may be finished just before retirement age thus saving us pension money.
It’s good he’s going because his presence is so devisive but I hope when he’s safely home and retired in England, he doesn’t decide to unload some of what he knows (from what he has been told by concerned Caymanians). Because, folks, he does know things.