Students in machete scare

| 11/09/2009

“We take a firm stance against any person who attempts to jeopardise the safety and security of our students and staff.  Weapons are a zero-tolerance offence at UCCI.” He said possession of a weapon on campus would result in immediate expulsion, in line with student policies and procedures.”

Minister for Education Rolston Anglin was briefed on the incident and he said the ministry gave its full backing to Dr Chapell and supported his efforts to ensure that the campus is a safe place.

Anglin emphasised that students are expected to do their part in maintaining an atmosphere of learning by handling conflicts in mature ways. “Reckless, immature behaviour will not be tolerated at any educational level,” he pointed out. “By the time a student enters university he or she is expected to demonstrate self control. Students who express themselves otherwise will be dealt with according to the university’s disciplinary policies, and the fullest extent of the law.”

Campus security’s first response, in cases where weapons are seen or suspected, is to immediately ensure the safety of bystanders and call 911.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Can CNS confirm a gun was pulled during this incident and if sowhy this isnt in the report?

    CNS: According to the police, there was never any evidence of a gun at this incident.

    • Anonymous says:

      Really, no gun?  Is that why the police left the machette guy at UCCI while they pursued these two other guys with "guns"?   Come on….the RCIPS must think everyone is a bunch of fools.

      • Frequent Flyer says:

        I doubt that the police think everyone is a bunch of fools, but since there were ‘100’ witness’ at the Next Level, they probably figure no one will talk anyway!!!

        You can’t have it both ways!

  2. Anonymous says:

    To "Three Suggestions on Crime" 

    I agree completely.  Make serving time as unpleasant as possible, and farm out the non-Caymanian offenders to other (cheaper) venues.  Also make theremaining prisoners do some real work.  (I am an expat, so no Caymanians are bashing expats comments are neccessary). 

    I go to Brickhouse with the kids,  I work for my money, I volunteer, I follow the traffic laws, I eat my vegetables, and make sure my kids floss –  it is SICK to see this criminal element infecting decent segments of the Island…but maybe it is a wake up call for all of us who thought " Well, I don’t go to THOSE kind of places that are being targeted, I don’t associate with THOSE kind of people so I’m safe."

    None of us are safe. We are being beseiged by uneducated, opportunistic, economic terrorists, and even if they don’t target us directly they are destroying our Island and the one good thing we had – safety.

    Just a post script:  I  think that "highly visible’ community service for non-violent crimes would be a good deterent,  Make them clean up dog poop or something simularly unglamourous for all to see.  How big of a would -be gang-banger can you be with a Foster’s bag full of dog poo?

     

  3. Anonymous says:

    Three suggestions on crime and punishment

    First I would like to suggest to CNS that they do a survey – with a section permitting comments – of the extent to which CNS readers think that issues relating to the deterrence of crime and the punishment for crimes committed, are being handled appropriately by legislators, the police and the prison system.
     
    Second, I would like to suggest a somewhat radical (although historically not new) approach to early intervention as a way of deflating the attractiveness of “thug” culture. My suggestion is that we adopt a true zero-tolerance approach like they have in Singapore. Special police should target the wanna-be thugs and those that emulate in any way the “thug” culture. If they drop a piece of litter on the ground, or do something else relatively minor – first time – they get a significant fine and their names recorded. Second time they get hauled in front of special magistrates who fine them, record their second breach, send them on a day trip to Northward (after it is fixed – see below), and inform them that on their third minor offense they will have two alternatives, do time in Northward or enlist in a discipline based organisation – personally I would recommend the French Foreign Legion as I have never heard of anyone surviving their stint and emerging from that organisation without a strong sense of discipline, respect for authority and a sound work ethic.
     
    Third, I would like to suggest that the prison system is totally out of step with what Caymanians want and expect and in this regard it is the prison system that needs to change. The prison system has evolved to be a place where prisoners are allowed to live like they are in a resort and as a result there is no fear of imprisonment. From a prison administration system perspective it may make sense to let prisoners live like hotel guests as it keeps the prisoners happen and makes the prison guards concierge style jobs easier. Unfortunately it also removes any deterrence posed by a prison sentence.
     
    In this regard I would like to further recommend three changes to our current prison system. First, we should privatize and export the custody of all foreign prisoners serving sentences of more than 1 year. Foreign prisoners should not be allowed to resume life in Cayman once their sentences are completed and as they are not going to be part of Cayman society when released, we just need to punish them economically. [If the majority of Caymanians also want Caymanian prisoners exported then perhaps we should do that as well.]
     
    There are places on the planet where it would be much less expensive to incarcerate prisoners. I am sure that there are organisations in remote countries with low costs of living like Somalia, and Yemen that could effectively accommodate our prisoners and keep them in line for about one tenth of what it costs in Cayman. This would save Caymanians millions of dollars each year and reduce the number of prison guards that have to be brought into Cayman from overseas to deal with foreign prisoners. Second I would like to suggest that in Northward, prisoners should no longer be treated like guests in 5 star hotels. No more cell phones for prisoners – if the prison system needs assistance there are people on the island that can show prison authorities how to jam cell signals within the prison so that there is no incentive for prisoners to attempt to smuggle them in. No more ability of prisoners to order pizza from Dominos or food from other places offering delivery if they don’t like what is on the menu that particular meal. No more TV or radios – do we really want them watching thug music videos while in Northward – let them learn to read in the evenings and make sure that what they read has some redeeming value. Institute hard labour – I don’t care what they do but sitting on their backsides all day eating pizza with their feet up on the furniture should not be an option – ideally they should be acquiring some practical skills that they can use on the outside. Third – segregate the hardcore violent prisoners from the less hard core non-violent prisoners  – people from the hardcore should never be allowed to see or speak to other prisoners period.
     
    These changes are not presented as a quick fix, but if implemented they would certainly go some way to making punishment fit the crime Cayman is experiencing. 
    • Anonymous says:

      All sensible suggestions but good luck convincing anyone to implement them.  Low-lives have no place in society but in today’s politically-correct climate one must rehabilitate them into productive members of society; akin to asking government to act responsibly with our money.

  4. Rey O says:

    ALL THIS CRIME.  MAN THIS IS CRAZY.  NOW I HEAR THEY ROB THE BRICKHOUSE TONIGHT…WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS PLACE

  5. Anonymous says:

    Unfortunately when it comes to naming criminals and warning and alerting the public to dangerous people there remains a culture of secrecy here.

  6. Anonymous says:

    I am a student of UCCI and it is very disturbing that these things are happening on campus.  An innocent bystander could have been hurt or killed. Kudos to Dr. Chapel for doing the right thing!  There needs to be security checkpoints at the school as most of these kids think they are invincible and they can get away with anything.

  7. Cayman 1 says:

    These students are funded by the Government right?  Is that why the Police are not saying who are involved?

    Come on get to the bottom of this before it grow and parents talk to your child or children who attend UCCI.

    Name and shame them UCCI

    CNS, please keep us posted on the outcome of this, I will be waiting.

    Thanks

  8. Anonymous says:

    As I understand it, the person with the machete was not a student!!

  9. Anonymous says:

    where is the love CI? what the heck happened sinceleft that place? I tell you boy, I am sad in the heart. You treated me and the family well for the 11 years we lived there; trust things will get better.

  10. truth hurts says:

    are these Caymanian possessed. WTF??? Is it true that things come in threes? What next?

  11. Anonymous says:

    I wonder why there is nothing about the gun that was pulled in this incident by one of the students and jamed before he could shoot

    • Twyla Vargas says:

      22:22 Are you sure?.  Hell,!!! this place is getting scary.  Has a curse or something has been cast on this Island.  Do we need a revival in the centre of the Towns?  Are the prayers of the chosen few being answered.  I do not know what has happened, but anyone who thinks they are safe at nights, then  they better think again.  They are all young people, so who are to blame?  Parents and guardians have just got to take controll. 

      Sincerely, my suggstion is.  To Have a curfew from 7 pm until 5 am next morning for at least three months. If a person is not going to a job between those hours they must have a genuine excuse for going absolutely nowhere.   I do not know if this make sence, I am only saying this because I cannot think of anything else that will stop the madness.  Another question that comes to mind is, if the persons in authority i.e. The Governor, Leaders and Police will consider  curfes.  Surely something has to be done , and very fast.

  12. Anonymous says:

    If this student chased 2 students with a machete he is a danger to society.If this person is not charged and serves time in Jail they will do much worse in the future.

    This is a test of Cayman’s tolerance on violence. I bet you this young adult was not an angel when he was a kid.  Imagine your child being chased by someone with a machete.

    Students are there to get an education. Not to be chased by people with machetes. This just did not happen. This person woke up this morning deciding to bring a machete to school.

    Wake up Cayman !!! we have a serious problem with our youth.

  13. Craig Merren says:

     A LAWLESSNESS SOCIETY?

    But are we willing to help nurture the unfortunates of our time? The unfortunate of our own kind? This is something that has been building for many years in Cayman. Let’s go back to the last 12-15 years (or 20) and do a back ground check on these “Gangs” (past politicians in that era once called them “Groups” they didn’t heed the warning either).

    Too many times we played this game and did not heed the warnings, but swipe it under the rug and went about our business. Caymanians always living in denial. But why? The reason is, we somehow, somewhere we got a little too complacent; we didn’t continue to carry on what was
    handed down by our forefather. We didn’t really do what to get in telling this one and that one etc. Just mind our business & didn’t say this or that. We forgot what our forefather thought us.

    We forget to go back and tell them, “Hi, if I see you with your pants down by your crack again am gonna tell your father/mother”. But, we didn’t want to get involved in telling his dad or mom. Some did am sure. I tell them that all the time when I see how they dress and wear these old baggy clothes and pants & think that’s style. We simplylet it all slide to what we are witness in today. We just forgot to be our brother’s keeper. We say, “No, that’s not my problem, he too bad he
    too this”. That is correct, but why? Do a survey on their Mama’s and daddies of those that has died from the bullet and check out the back grounds. I see the problem every day after schools. The little attitudes, the walk, pants drop down by their crack of their asses, the supa size ear ring, tattoos on the girls back sides, big bling-bling shades and the list goes on and on. All this has created this manner that has been developing in many countries. Yes its parenting that is responsible, and that’s the bottom line!!!

    Just this afternoon seen 3 of them (boys between 15-18yrs) crossing the road after school on Walkers Rd with a grave yard look on their face, one is smoking thinks he is so cool. I wanted to turn around and have a chat with them but time didn’t permit me to. But am sure I will see them agan and have a lil chat and get there youthful response on life, home and love. But mind this now, it has to be with respect. Meaning you can’t approach them with a bad manner either.

    Am sure this can be identified and manage by means of fostering these kids, their homes, their parents and help finically if the case. I don’t mean by popping over and dropping off a $100 bucks, I mean by contributing our time, a solution, working with the schools, going into the districts in the yards, pointing them out in the schools (we can spot the lil upcoming buggers a mile away) and help out in their weakness, their family structure, the way they live (and we know!)
    that might need some funding towards their basic needs. Am sure the schools, teachers and social services can help stream line those that are in need, that’s in this situation. As I said, we can spot them a mile.

    Once we have, we can chart their course and help with the tools to up bring our kids to be a better member of society, for a healthier Cayman, a safer Cayman. To cast them into the iron men as their forefathers once was. Let’s get together to help make our weak ones men of charter, statesmen and embrace them for tomorrow’s leaders instead of gunslingers shooting one another.

    You might be conscious of loosing what you have built up over the years for your family and for this country, for this island. I don’t want to hear this “Boy my business gonna suffer and this and that”. What have suffered are the families of so many dead young men of our country over time, and over what? I wish I knew my bible will so I could quote you some scriptures, but I have some good ones like that on this email that know them – AMEN!

    In closing, If we don’t take control now (we kind of late, but never too late) am afraid I’ll have to echo what a cousin of mine said in his words, “Our own peaceful and safe lifestyle that we all have enjoyed growing up in Cayman has come to an abrupt end. We need to deal with this urgent crisis, or any future that we planned for on these Islands will be history”. Will, we’ll be all gone to hell. We are too much of a small society to let Satan slide this on us. I have the faith.

    Cayman am afraid, has become a LAWLESSNESS SOCIETY! That’s just the bottom line!

    But, my good Caymanian comrades, friends & businessmen are you now willing to lend a hand to the un-fortunate, misplaced & frail Caymanian/s families by any means necessary?

    Let’s continue to pray for these islands, pray for our brothers and sisters and the blessing from the good lord above.

    Have safe & Bless weekend!

    One Love!

     
     
     
     
     

     

    • The Force says:

      What about the gun that was involved? Nothing much said about that so far.

      Craig you are so right – we have become a lawless society.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Dr. Chapell, Sir, my respect.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Name this criminal!

    • Twyla Vargas says:

      19:33  Yes !!!  Name this Machette chaser.  I have been saying it all along, if you can chase someone in a public place with a machette, gun or, 2 X 4.  we want to know the chaser.  Why not?

  16. Richard Wadd says:

     This one probably won’t be charged with ‘Possesion of and Intent to use a Deadly Weapon’ either.

    However, we shouldn’t be surprised if both the good Doctor, and the Security Gaurd find themselves in Court answering charges for assaulting this delinquent.

    What a mess we have made of ‘Paradise’.