Cops to talk gangs with West Bay community

(CNS): While the Royal Cayman Islands Police Services leadership has long been reluctant to admit that the Cayman Islands has a problem with gangs, West Bay Area Commander Chief Inspector Howell is placing the subject front and centre in the district and is organising a special seminar for the community to discuss the issue. The presentation will be hosted by RCIPS officers who have received certified training on this subject on Thursday, 3 December, at the John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay at 6:30pm.

The event will provide information to parents, guardians and teachers alike to help determine if a young person is at risk of becoming associated with or is involved in gang activity.

“I urge everyone in the community to come to this event and get invaluable knowledge on this topic, especially parents and our young people,” said Howell. She explained that the seminar will touch on the subjects of – what constitutes a ‘gang’, why people join gangs and signs of association, amongst other topics. The expert officers hosting the seminar will also be available to answer questions.

Recently the police commissioner David Baines acknowledged that there was an issue on the islands with gang rivalries and he suggested that the recent murders were as a result of tit for tat killings between gang members over a girl. Although he has said that these gangs are involved in the trafficking of drugs and guns the violence has much to do with perceptions of respect and local geographical affiliation than it does organised gang crime.

Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.