Crime ‘intolerable’ says Bush
(CNS): Following the robbery of two visitors to the Cayman Islands on a secluded beach in the district of East End on Monday lunchtime, Premier McKeeva Bush has expressed his outrage over the assault and revealed that the crime prevention strategy will be considered by Cabinet next week. He said the strategy was expected to address the “this intolerable situation” regarding crime. In an official statement released by his office, Bush, who is currently in the United Kingdom, revealed his concern about what he said was an unacceptable rise in the type crime that could do irreparable damage to the country.
"I am deeply concerned to learn that a vacationing couple have been the target of a senseless robbery earlier this week. Like the rest of the community, I am outraged by this assault and cannot begin to understand the mentality of persons who would commit such unwarranted acts against others,” Bush said in the statement released on Thursday afternoon.
“The rise in crime is unacceptable, especially since such attacks by thoughtless individuals are capable of doing irreparable damage to our tourist industry, our economy and our country. As such, this government fully supports His Excellency the Governor and the commissioner of police in whatever actions they deem are necessary to take to address criminal behaviour and restore the peaceful and harmonious way of life we rightfully expect in our beloved Cayman Islands,” the premier added.
Cabinet will be considering a Crime Prevention Strategy next week, he said, which has been developed by the National Security Council. “It is expected that this strategy will provide a comprehensive approach to reducing this intolerable situation. Further information will be released to the public from both the National Security Council and the Commissioner of Police shortly," Bush noted.
For some time now the wider public has been asking the government and the premier to directly address the question of crime, with people asking for a national policy to deal with the surge in violent crime.
The strategy, which has been formed through the National Security Council under the guidance of the governor, is believed to focus on a more long term wider approach to tackling the deeper social causes of crime rather than the day to day issues of crime as it happens, which is in the hands of the RCIPS.
Some 64 armed robberies took place last year, many of which have yet to be solved, and seven robberies have already taken place since the start of 2011 — the incident at Barefoot Beach on Mondaywas the seventh robbery. There have also been a number of reports of bag snatches taking place at the Royal Watler Terminal in George Town from visiting cruise passengers, though none of these have been confirmed by the RCIPS.
More than 135 comments were made to the CNS website in relation to the report about the visiting couple who were attacked on the beach in East End, many of which expressed concern about the negative and possible long term damage this type of crime would have on the tourism sector. The victims also related the incident themselves on their own web-blog.
Police are currently investigating the robbery, in which the three men got away with only a few dollars cash, but as they left the couple on the beach after the assault, they smashed open their rental car and stole an expensive underwater camera.
The police say one suspect was approximately 17 years old, 5 feet 7 inches in height with dark complexion. He was wearing a knuckleduster and a dark blue NBA jersey. The second was about 5 feet 10 inches in height and approximately 165 pounds, wearing short pants and carrying the baseball bat. The third was said to be about 6 feet in height, approximately 165 pounds and wearing a white shirt and short pants.
Barefoot Beach is located off the Queens Highway on the northern coast of Grand Cayman in a remote but very attractive, location. Police said it was extremely unusual for an incident such as this to take place in the area but patrols there would now be increased.
Category: Headline News
Sorry Mac it all went wrong 10 years ago when gangs were introduced and the 3 P’s politicains, police and parents ignored the warning signs. The breakdown in moral fabric and lack of values caused our society to lose focus and the importance of caring for each other. Our coast being prune to drugs and firearms smugglers has now become a major trans shipment point for crimminals. Disbanding the CID and Task Force and getting rid of the US Coast Guard Airport base spelt the beginning of major crime in Cayman. Brain Rankine’s & Estella’s murders unfortunately was the first warning signs that wasn’t heeded and has paved the way for more hideous crimes. Countless armed robberies, home invasion and acts of violence has seen an exodus of good honest skilled expats and Caymanians in the last 3 years.
We don’t have effective policing and leadership both critical aspects of security. There’s a high level of illiterate young people in Cayman so they are mostly unemployed and become a risk to the wider population as they will most likely turn to life of crime. If these young people aren’t incarcerated then they’ll become repeat offenders. I’m begging Mr. Taylor to please get Baines out of Cayman he’s incompetant and lacks any sort of policing skills. Get an experienced US street educated Chief and who is not afraid of the punks and will introduce stiff measures in dealing with them and utilize the knowledge of local officers and residents to bring down the offenders.
We better hope that Cayman’s once good reputation isn’t spoiled because of the recent attacks on tourist yet I’m afraid the damage has been done. Change is needed and party politics has ruined Cayman, remember two wrongs never make a right so given 3,000 status grants and introducing the rollover led us on the wrong path.
Let’s all push for a positive change in 2013 and get fresh young, educated and open minded representatives not politicians to lead us forward. I hope that the RCIPS catch the men who attacked the couple in East End and give them a stiff sentence so that they are an example.
Blessings to all,
The horse has bolted and it is time to close the barn door. However, it is still being held open by those (mostly families) who support the (mostly young) criminals, and those who hang onto their money and live in mega-homes in gated communities.
The wealthy continue to cling to their wealth, have always done so and will always do so. The poor will always try to find a way out of poverty, have always done so and will always do so. Our capitalistic society which simply rewards the wealthy with more wealth maintains this system.
Until these two fundamental problems are faced and dealt with, the situation will not change.
Amazing that after all these years of nothing but self interest that so many could still be so out of touch with reality to actually expect the Cayman Government lead by the same bunch to do something different from the only thing they know how to do. Wow! Gain some self respect people! Getting used and abused and paying for it by your own kind does not make it right. Or does it to you? Intolerable? Doesn’t appear so to me.
I think Caymanians should start protesting like the Egyptians did. Revolt against you Premier and force him to resign! You are not as powerless as you think to make a change. Someone needs to start a Facebook page and get the ball rolling with a date and time to begin protesting in front of the government offices – tip off the media, tv station included, and get them to cover it, with any luck it will hit the international news stations. If losing "tourism" dollars is what gets the Premier to act, then hit him where it hurts by creating media attention. Thanks CNS for creating this platform to start with!
Whats the differance between the Egyption people and Caymanian people now?
Change.
I hope one difference is that the Egyptians spell better.
Obviously you believe they had to be able to spell better to do what they did. It takes UNITY (which we obviously DON’T have) and COMMON SENSE to do what they did my friend, NOT winning a spelling B…
Oh please…its intolerable now???? A four year old being shot at and killed isn’t intolerable, the gangs, robbery, hold ups aren’t intolerable? Is my life any different then a tourist? Yes tourism brings in the some money into the Islands (not much anymore), but do you not think when they open up Cayman News Service, Cayman Net News, Cayman Compass, the tourists can’t see the rising in the crime.
Its been intolerable when the prisoners decided to burn the prison down and it has been going downhill since then!!!
Bush is intolerable.
McKeeva and Mubarak – odd similarities
Something to consider; there is an odd or some may say “eerie” similarity between McKeeva Bush, Hosni Mubarak, The Cayman Islands and Egypt.
First, the correlation between the two Countries; The people of both Countries consistently cry out for help from the Leaders for 25 plus years yet they are ignored. Second, the similarities of the two Leaders; it is reasonable to say after all that has happened both McKeeva Bush and Hosni Mubarak suffer from the same problem. 30 years in power consequently they both have lost complete touch and sight of the real issues that plague their very people.
Over the last 18 days the Egyptian people finally said “ENOUGH” through fairly calm yet forceful demonstrations resulting in Hosni Mubarak agreeing to step down to allow progress and hope for Egypt and by extension the Egyptian people.
Residents of The Cayman Islands it is clear that McKeeva Bush has lost touch with reality thus compounding the ever increasing troubles of its people which in essence negatively affects all who reside and invest here. Consequently, similar acts to what has just occurred in Egypt must be considered here for the Cayman Islands prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year. If the Cayman Islands have any glimmer of hope to rebound from the quagmire our elected officials over the past three decades have placed us in.
History will show that Hosni Mubarak was simply a figure head and Egypt was in essence controlled by the United States visa vie the Egyptian Military. History has unambiguously outlines that McKeeva Bush was and still is a “Figure Head”, who unfortunately is controlled by a select few, not the electorate that gave him the privileges he currently enjoys.
ARE YOU REALLY WILLING TO DO SOMETHING CAYMAN?! If the number of approvals are satisfactory look for future organization to this end.
Well one difference may be that Mubarack is now accused of using his position to fill his own purse, I dont recall anyone suggesting that Bush has done that. Have they?
Police need to get out of their cars and helicopters and start patrolling on foot.
Otherwise, criminals will continue to run circles around them, making them almost useless.
Why are the police wasting our money installing cameras in random urban locations, when they could be mounting foot patrols?
To the extent that cameras are useful at all, they will merely drive criminals out to the suburbs.
Let’s be honest, forget what Mac says, all he can do is submit laws and approve budgets.
The persons we should be blaming for the out break in crime is our fellow Caymanians in the Civil Sevice. Mr> Manderson and Bush.
A proposal was put to them for a serious crime unit, they turned this down. they were told that this was going to happen, they ignored this info given to them.
For everyone who reads this, lets go back prior to Ivan, on the street we had proactive police officers, infact when you heard an officers name you were rather worried ( well not honest person but criminals), Names mentioned back then. Mr. Brady, Brown, Simms as well as other names, now on the streets all you hears is police, no names and no fear.
Let me give you a simple example of young crimals today, this was told to me by a known person who just served several yrs in NW.
Once out, he travelled to his old hangout, he saw a young man sitting with a knife in hand and a large white rock in the other, as he got closer this person noticed a forearm in this persons lap. this man knew the other and asked what he was doing? he got a reply of what you mean? reply, are you not scared of the DTF coming and arresting you for drugs and firearm. the man replied DFT WHO? they not come down here.
Beleive it or not, our policing has changed from the proactive policing done several years ago, you cant really blame the officers, but you can blame the senior personal and senior Civil Servants. Mac cant do SH>>>>>>> about it. maybe you need to ask why the Governor has not addressed us, isn’t he in charge of this.
Cayman, come on, the island is going down the wrong road, I have to be honest and say, we need Brady,Bown and other officers like them back.
Atten :GOVERNOR DUNCAN, THE PREMIER AND CABINET
This is my response to the very informative article regarding how our police of yesterday were respected. Mr. Brady left RCIP worked in Immigration for some years and he is now an Attorney! he has moved up in society.
We need a new plan:
The concerned governor should pay Derek Haines $1 million over 5 years to clean up Cayman. Yes ask Dart to give him leave from his security job for a while the country needs him. Dart don’t be selfish lend him to us.
Its Derek Haines or Rudi Giuliani, former Mayor of New York.He brought down the mafia in NY city and reduced crime. New York is no longer the crime capital of the US, Chicago Illinois is now the crime capital!
Let’s see just how soft the premier and the governor is going to handle this or are they going to hide behind a consultant curtain again or TAKE CHARGE by hiring a TOUGH MAN FOR THE JOB. Tough does not mean Another UK Commissioner of RCIP UNLESS ITS DEREK HAINES! He has proven himself and IS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB. If the premier and the governor do not offer this man something he can not refuse then we conclude that they are happy with the crime and happy with the people being unhappy and afraid.
NO more UK RCIP they make life worse for us all ! And they do not understand the culture.
DEREK HAINES UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURE, HAS ASSIMILATED INTO THE CULTURE , WE TRUST HIM and thank God he he’s not a bigot at all, AND EVERY CITIZEN AND RESIDENT WHEN HE WAS IN CHARGE, WOULD RUN TO HIM GIVING HIM ALL THE INFORMATION HE NEEDED TO TAKE THE CRIMINALS DOWN! That is a fact. Getting information on who committed a crime was as easy as drinking water for former top cop Derek Haines! Why? because he was competent, didn’t run up his mouth! like Baines, and he was SERIOUS!
Is that happening now for Comm. Baines, No! he has to beg every day and is at a dead end. We are actually steering at him every day to see just where he expects to go with what he is doing! THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL
TIME FOR CHANGE!
GOVERNOR DUNCAN TAYLOR. This is the missing piece to the puzzle.
The present system DOES NOT WORK!
Governor Duncan Premier Bush and cabinet FYI THE CRIMINALS FEARED DEREK HAINES, but they have no fear nor respect for the RCIP and its leadership of the day. There’s a difference. Bring Out Haines and send the criminals to jail.
If you three responsible entities disagree with my recommendation they YOU THE GOVERNMENT DO NOT MEAN THE PEOPLE OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS NOR THE TOURISTS ANY GOOD! So far all you have given us is the lip service of consultants. YOU HAVE NOT HIREDE ANYONE THAT CAH TAKE DOWN THESE CRIMINALS! ITS A SHAME AND DISGRACE,YOU HAVE FAILED US!
So where is the DTF Mr.Manderson and Mr. Bush turned down?
Small point, but he was never in charge, David Thursfield was!
OMG how on earth can you compare Derrick Haines with Rudi Giuliani? There is no comparison. When Derrick Haines was in the Police Department there was crime going on, think back…he didn’t do that good of a job. Furthermore his contract wasn’t renewed. There has to be a reason for that, and I doubt it was because he was a great officer.
Crime was at its beginning when he was in the Police Force, maybe if he had paid a little more attention in what was going on and not denying there was a problem we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in now. This didn’t happen overnight. It has been going on for over 10 years!! Remember the saying "we don’t have crime, we don’t have gangs, we didn’t have a Category 5 hurricane", WAKE UP!!!!
I bet you don’t hear we don’t have crime, we dont’ have gangs anymore…
So, it takes the well publicized robbery of a visitor and the fear of loss of tourism to make the crime situation intolerable? What about your own people who have had to endure break-ins, robberies, murders, gangs, home invasions, machetes and guns for years. Do they not matter as much as tourist dollars? Tackle the crime issue for your own people first and, when Cayman again enjoys a reputation for safety, the tourists will come and spend their almighty dollars.
For Real.. Godknows what we have endured.. Look at the social fabric of many of our Caymanian families,just eroding away. The equation of no job’s for Caymanian’s & a high crime rate is a very simple one.The system of things demands that money come from somewhere. Some how it always look’s like the outcome has been calculated. A minimum wage is long,long,long overdue.
What is truly intolerable is Juliana O’Connor-Connolly’s "team" going to a phone trade show on our taxpayer dime!!!
Do the right thing for your party and the Big Mac, cancel this trip and tell these CIVIL SERVANTS that this is NOT in the best interest of the country.
This is a crime….how many police salaries could have been paid instead of this transparent jolly trip to Spain?!? $$$$
Very sad that a 4 year old getting shot and killed is not enough to stir the government into action.
I am sorry but while everybody is pointing a finger at everyone else, we all have to get together and take the blame. We have kids out there who are raising themselves, kids who go to school everyday without breakfast or lunch money but parents are dressed in expensive clothes and have expensive cars. We have kids leaving primary schools and high school whom can’t read or write but because they are of age they are passed through. These people can not go out and get a job so how else do they live? They rob and sell drugs. Government need to start spending money on our education system because it ain’t the best.
There are parents who try hard to raise their kids in the right way but once kids go to school and hang out with the bad kids, it takes a lot of will power not to stray from what you know is right. We need to go back to the days when kids feared their parents, now a days kids speak how ever they want to their parents and parents just same afraid of them.
Instead of blaming the Governor, McKeeva or the Police, take a look at your family and see if any of them are part of these crime sprees and do the right thing and turn them in.
Big Mac,
You can not fool the tourists anymore so PUT THIS HOUSE IN ORDER!
Get the experts here who can fight crime and stop listening to excuses from the mouth of the commissioner. He’s clueless.
P.S. I mean experts who are crime fighters, not a team of CONSULTANTS again wasting our hard earned tax dollars!
Stop this consultancy foolishness. Pay the right man for the job.
Hands up all mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles who have a 17yr old with a navy blue NBA T shirt. The future of our island is in your hands, not in the hands of committees, police, Governors, and politicians.
The rot started decades ago, when the politicians and Education Dept supported the parents, but not the teachers, when the parents came huffing and puffing down to the school to complain about the teachers who tried to discipline their unruly children. The head-teachers and teachers eventually gave up, and now we have a whole generation with no respect for authority, and the law and order that holds our society together.
Amen! Women of Cayman…this young THUG will NOT do his own laundry.
Someone post a photo of the blue NBA Jersey to ALL the newspapers and anyone owning one should be hauled in, questioned, photographed, and hopefully identified by the poor tourist victims.
It is up to the mothers, sisters, aunties, helpers, family and friends to call 1-800 TIPS and turn these bad boys in!
Dear McKeeva:
See if you can spot the difference.
Bad leadership:
“The theft of $20 on Monday is intolerable because they are talking about it on trip advisor. I intend to deal with it sometime next week. We’re going to have a meeting and read a report on crime prevention. If we get time we might talk about solving some of the crimes that we didn’t prevent.”
Good leadership:
“This situation has been intolerable for some time. I have summoned the Police Commissioner to explain to me how this situation has arisen and what new measures he is implementing to ensure that the RCIPs can impose its will on this criminal element and keep the visitors and residents of the Cayman Islands safe. Ihave informed the Commissioner that I expect to see meaningful results before our next meeting in a week.”
It is intolerable because 2 tourists were robbed on a secluded beach. WHY WAS IT NOT INTOLERABLE WHEN 2 ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE BEATEN IN THEIR OWN HOME AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED??
Start thinking of your own people BIG MAC. Then and ONLY THEN, will it become a safer place for ALL, including the almighty TOURIST DOLLAR.
But then again, you won’t see this commen because you have NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY while you are trotting off to Spain or England or Hong Kong or the US. WAIT UNTIL CRIME HITS YOUR VERY FRONT DOOR, YOUR FAMILY.
Will you ACT THEN?!?!?!?!
Totally obvious that some one other then his Honorable Premeirship told him that he needs to say this now. He is too busy leading his 5 star life to take his own look at what the average Caymanian life is currently like. And why should he care? As long as his voteing block is well cared for his job is done and off he goes. Cayman leadership at its best.
Dubai you can put Mr. Rudy Giuliani on yours and the governors wish list but I very much doubt he would operate under the rules of engagement that the current police force operates under (CREDIT TO OUR OFFICERS ON THE STREET ). I do think we could engage him to act as a consultant. Anything is better than what we have now
This is what is really Bad…. Without CNS and other Media outlets reporting these incidents nothing would really be done about it. That is how worthless our elected officials are. That by local reporting and giving us the use of blogs that we the people have a voice. It is only because that everyone, tourists and locals alike can read our news so something has to be done about or we lose our tourism product. I believe if the Government could hush the media outlets that would have been their first course of action and then we the islanders would simply suffer in silence while nothing radical every gets done to stomp out the problem. So if you want to talk about dead wood we got plenty. If someone puts on a suit and tie, tells you he is a politician and what he or she he’s going to do….that in know way make him or her an expert in anything other than being good at telling people what they want to hear. It does not make them fit to lead by any stretch. You lead by example and you must have the respect of everyone under your direction to give their all. We have a government and police force in disarray. Most are not experts by any means and we the citizens think because they wear a uniform or suit and tie that we should take their word for it or they now best. We need to wake up an open our eyes. Many of these people are just as lazy, apathetic and self serving as the criminals. There is NO standards to hold these people too.
CRIME ON THE INCRESE…. For the lost two years crime has realy gotten worst. nobody can tell me that crime was this bad under the PPM i hope the premier and his back bench supporter from george town how they use to get on the radio and tell the country that the ppm goverment was responsible for the crime. now that the shoes are on the other foot now, i wonder why the ppm is not reminding them of this and holding them responsible. now for the police they realy need some leadership, this commissioner do not have a clue of what his duties are. mr premier i can remember you being responsible for haveing one commissioner being sent back to england, this was when you did not have any power.mr baines has the service demorilized. all he is doing is bring ing his buddies from england that do not know half of what he know ( nothing) mr permier can we have another salary cut for the leaders in the service, and when they prove thier worth you return it
What a load of croc.
McKeeva and the UDP campaigned on a platform that “crime increased under the PPM” and that by electing the UDP the people could be assured that something would be done to stem the tide.
Now McKeeva says “this government fully supports His Excellency the Governor and the commissioner of police in whatever actions they deem are necessary to take to address criminal behaviour and restore the peaceful and harmonious way of life we rightfully expect in our beloved Cayman Islands,”
Isn’t that a nice way of saying its their problem and I have nothing to do with it?
umm I think a load and a croc are the same thing.
…….your point is??????
So we have deal with the mounting problem for years as residents and it has to get to the point when a Toursist get assualted to deal with it? Typical Government reaction. Thanks Guys
take control now or the citizens will and I am sure it will not be pretty as they will start arming themselves.
Control who is allowed in to Cayman more closely and find those who have overstayed.
A new team has to be setup and deployed to do this….and please provide them with some firepower….enough is enough
Finally!!
The first step to solving a problem is admitting you have a problem. Well done McKeeva and welcome to reality.
Now for the second step…..great idea to discuss a policy paper next week about long term approaches to crime reduction (let me guess…better schools, better justice system, substance abuse treatment…there I could have saved you a year) but that’s not really the answer for the problems we have right now.
Cayman is experiencing a crime wave, and it won’t be solved by talking and long-winded discussion papers. It will be fixed with decisive leadership and by taking dramatic action to change the situation immediately, not in 5 or 10 years.
The police must know who and where the criminals and the gangsters are (and if they don’t, we need new police leadership). Hell, I could find them pretty easily. Now is the time to crack down on those little &%*^s. Arrest them, deport them or just make their lives a misery. Shoot them for all I care. Just deal with them and do it soon!
So come on McKeeva, Mr Baines, Governor ONE of you step up and do something.
I for one am glad to see the Premier is aware of the crime happening here on a daily basis. The National Security Council’s long term approach is all fine and good (if we had the time). It should produce a trickle down effect in the far off future. What we have now is a crime wave and a commissioner of police who has proven himself ineffective to deal with it. More lip service from Baines is just what we need. He has had more than enough time to come up with a plan and execute it. Baines is like a man standing in front of a freight train and yelling stop. He is not even capable of figuring out that his plan of keeping the press in the dark just will not work, most people on this island are well informed (marl road) and know what has happened well before the RCIPS decides to release it to the press. Wouldn’t it be wiser to make a controlled release earlier and add details as they become known. That way they have some say in how it is reported. Any one in the public eye and with half a brain knows it is better to have the press as an ally than as a foe. Then again what we have been seeing in the past may be what the RCIPS thinks a controlled press release should be. Again I say Baines is the best thing that ever happened to the criminal fraternity of Cayman.
There is a missing Caymanian woman for over two weeks now and we do not hear a peep from Mr. Bush. But, once a tourist is put in a head lock and robbed of twenty bucks it is time to act? What? The love of money is a bad thing!!!
I completely agree with the comment above! I love how Mr. Bush has ignored this for so long and not only ignored it but also supported and commended an MLA when he committed a crime, but now that the crime is making it to the foreign press and affecting the tourism product he decides it is “intolerable”!!!! What about those of us who can’t get the government to pay for a large fence around our property Mr. Bush? Those of us, who for the past of couple of years have been waiting on some kind of sign that Government was taking this situation seriously?
I was born here, raised here and from a Caymanian family and I KNOW that this isn’t a level of crime and violence Cayman has ever seen before! I also know that there have been many factors leading up to this escalation, but the truth is if we are ever going to reduce it we not only have to get the police better prepared, with some kind of action plan as mentioned by Mr. Bush, to deal with the types and volume of crime but we also have to address the underlying causes. The PPM trying to get those schools built and the others upgraded to give the youth of Cayman a better chance is the only real step I have seen in a long time of Government trying to address some of the underlying issues that can lead to criminal behaviour in young people! It isn’t the only way forward but I certainly haven’t seen anything else coming out of this government!
This isn’t an indepth analysis and I don’t pretend to know all the answers but I will say that Mr. Bush’s comment at this time is insulting to Caymanians who have had to live in concern and fear for the last couple of years! I know tourists are important, but what about the people of Cayman who have been victims of this escalating violence? Those who have been permanently injured, murdered, and who have gone missing? Believe me Mr. Bush Caymanians are suffering from the violence too and as a young Caymanian I can say it has been an “intolerable” situation for a long time and it is truly UNACCEPTABLE that it has taken this long for you to publically admit to it!
There has been 2 years or more of very serious crime against everyone on Cayman starting with Estella and only now the Premeir Caymanian has something to say. And of course you now have something to say because a Caymanian woman is “missing” What?Everything else is still not important? Not too hard to see why Those who can do nothing about it. It never was about money to most of the responsible people on the island.To you and those like you whatever it really is about is still not important enough to do more than speak.
WHAT? You make no sense!
Governor Taylor,
Get in touch with Rudy Guliani and give him a one year contract. I guarantee you he’ll have the crime cleaned up within SIX MONTHS! Let him bring in a team of North American US police to work with him and help us out. We have no more patience for Comm Baines and his pride who will not acknowledge he is losing.
Governor Taylor please, please, please DO NOT BRING ANY MORE POLICE HERE FROM THE UK. Its useless!, ( with an exception of Mr. Derek Haines who we respect highly) AND DO NOT CHOOSE ANOTHER RCIP COMMISSIONER FROM THE UK. These are North American style crimes committed nowadays, and we need North American law enforcement experts.
Stop joking with yourselves, stop fooling the people. UK POLICE HAVE NOT A CLUE WHAT TO DO WITH THIS NEW BREED OF CRIMINALS IN THIS REGION.
Actually, although Mr. Guliani was helpful in the crime wave in NYC it wasn’t a majority of his doing. It is a bit more complicated than that.
The first is the abortion was legalized a few decades before and those children then were not born to the people who weren’t going to raise them anyway. Hence, there were less people who would be likely to committ crime.
The second isthat simple things like the subway trains and stations being washed down each night, and grafitti being painted over was undertaken.
The first one though is the main one, the people who might have committed the crime were not born.
Harsh reality, but it actually factually based. There is a pretty good book on it “The Tipping Point”.
Unfortunately the legal system is totally different. In the salty tropics there is very rapid degradation of biometric evidence. Cayman does not have a crime lab, let alone it’s own Coroner. We have big city crime levels and an unskilled provincial police force is dispatched to deal with it. They have become a community complaints department. Perhaps the worst part of the problem is that the kingpins are known, incubated, and enabled by those in the highest positions of power to arrest this activity. Crime is paying since there are no demonstrable consequences to their emboldened behavior.
I give Kudos to DUBAI, the best post in this forum and makes the most SENSE.
The government do not need any more consultants.They need to just get the right person at the top to CLEAN UP CRIME IN CAYMAN. Stop talking, stop consulting and GET THE JOB DONE! REVOKE THE CAYMAN STATUS GRANTS OF THE IMPORTED CRIMINALS. That’s what the US and France is doing so why not Cayman are you enjoying all this crime or do you mean to get rid of it. Just because status was granted does not mean we have to live with it. Its time to put harsh penalties in place like Revoke Cayman Status with deportation.
PUT AWAY FOR GOOD THE LOCAL CAYMANIANS BY BIRTH WHO REFUSE TO BE REHABILITATED!
JAIL, REVOKE AND DEPORT THE CAYMAN STATUS- FOREIGN BORN CRIMINALS WHO JOIN THE LOCAL CRIMINALS IN THEIR GANG BANGING AND LOOTING. ITS ONLY FAIR TO THE REST OF US!
If this does not happen then we need to look over our shoulder and build burglar bars around our houses and arm ourselves and hit the streets like the EGYPTIANS! demanding change. How would the tourist feel then?
Tourists and investors would respect us when they see some action and not just lipservice.
We want our country back
Yes Lets wait till’ nex week to address this…no crimes will hapen over the weekend…I PROMISE!
I think the only way to make criminals frear the legal system here is to put in a none tolerable crime law. Meaning if you rob, steal or kill automatic life in prison. If you comitt any of these crimes with a gun automatic life in prison. Thats the only solution that will make one think twice before committing a crime. Also turn Northward into a real prison… while seeking advice from overseas companys about trash etc. Seek some advice on how a prision is suppose to be and that in it self will also make people think twice when they realize how harsh the prison system will be twards them for a life term!
It is already to late. This place will continue to go down, because nobody in charge cares.
McKeeva… Sir, I believe we have tried really hard to fight crime… with all due respect, I think it is time you get on the Commissioner’s case, because apparently he is not doing something right. It could be… he himself needs “local” advisors and consultants to assist him.
Obviously these types of crimes are not new since it’s been happening since the early 90’s but was not reported in the news like it is now a days. The unfortunate reality is that warning signs were ignored and continue to be ignored – I guess the attitude is “it will go away” or “just sweep it under the carpet”. This type of attitude needs to change and a realistic resolution needs to be created. I’m sorry but although we are part of the British mindset in regards to Law Enforcement we need to change that mentality and change our legislation to allow our police force to be armed (mind you they need proper training not only in how to handle a gun but how to be a police officer – sorry not trying to degrade our force but they are trained as if we were living in the 70’s) this has to change – just as we have to change with the times so do they. The Commissioner does not seem to have the respect from his force so a proper leader needs to be either promoted from within who all officers look up to or bring someone who will earn the respect and guide the force properly. The Governor needs to reassess the force (he seems to be an intelligent man and I’m hoping he is not just here for a vacation just like the previous one). We need leaders who will do their jobs that includes our Premier and his cabinet. Bring in a US Gang Unit who no one knows here and who would not care about being a “target” from the Thugs that we have here. We also need to have some kind of trade school, mechanic’s school etc for those children who do not have the grades to go off to college or their talents are better off at a trade school. Most of these crimes it seems are being done by locals (and by local I don’t mean Caymanian I mean someone who lives here on island so it can be any nationality the point is they live here) but young boys – teenagers. I’m guessing they are not in school and this is a way they are humoring themselves (could be gang initiations or plain boredom). Its just mind boggling that we are such a small island and yet we cannot find a strategy to stop or at least curve this crime wave.
I’m just an everyday person just like the other bloggers and somehow we can come up with solutions but our Government, Governor or Commissioner can’t. Come on boys put your thinking cap on and get your hands dirty it’s really not that hard. Lets get our island back on track and get rid of the rats – oh yeah Northward is not a prison so might have to rethink that too….maybe a drop off to Swan Island with nothing might be a good prison term…just a thought.
Lastly, a message to all parents “do you know where your kids are? and what they are up too? If they are part of any group that resembles a gang turn them in- as you YOURSELF are part of the problem and should be held responsible if your kid/s are arrested for any crime. If their pants are down to the ground make them pull them up, if they are not respecting you demand the respect, if their grades are poor demand good grades – they are your responsiblility and they need your love and guidance so do your part as parents.
Lets all try and work together but this nonesense needs to end.
It is ‘intolerable’ and I am glad the Premier says it like it is! Something has to be done, and it takes parents, leaders, everyone to make it happen!
The neglect of our youth for years and years is coming home to roost. The lack of proper facilities for our at risk youth by successive governments now find the same youth (some now adults) robbing, stealing and killing. These individuals are not from abroad. They are home grown. It is going to get worst. You only need to see the number of juveniles and young people coming to court on a Friday morning before JPs to know that in another few years more will be on the street robbing, stealing and killing each other. Politicians are doing nothing as these young people are not vote getters. Shame on every member of government. Unless the cause is addressed, crime is going to get worse. Mike come to Juv. Court and Youth Court one Friday morning and see for yourself and stop running away when someone is trying to speak you about it.
BRAVO!!!
Someone who gets it! This is the absolute truth! I for one used to volunteer at an ‘afterschool facility” that operated from the old racket club building over 7 years ago.
The program was free and catered to mainly youth from the George Town area, (like rock hole, central etc) and many of the students attending often said to us how safe they felt and appreciative of the snacks we provided because for many it was the ONLY meal they had and would have that day!!!!
The program was closed in 2003 to build the now Government admin building, (which only began about 3 years ago!!!) we were promised assitance with finding a new location and until now nothing has come to fruition!!!! We provided a FREE, safe, secure, nurturing environment for young people who could not expect the same from their homes. And I recgonize many of our now “criminals” as some of my then students!!! Who knows how the program might have positively helped steer these kids in a better direction!
What we have now reaking havoc on our islands is the “Forgotten Generation” and we are suffering from our own negligence!
When has crime ever been tolerable? Wrong word to use I think. My bet is that McKeeva will only just now jump on this bandwagon to gain popularity votes because he knows he is failing, but he still has the chance to be a hero. Anyway, there certainly won’t be much crime in the first class sections of the planes he always seems to be in!
Good morning sir. Did you sleep well?
It may be a coincidence, but every Caribbean country that saw the increase of the party (tribal) system saw an increase in crime. Cayman has provenno different.
Maybe the crime is created by the parties as it was in the 1970s in Jamaica or it is because the people are split into tribes and it is easier to blame the other tribe and do nothing about it. Who knows?…Actually, I doubt the former is happening here yet.
Whatever, it certainly is here. And the UK will certainly not really care about this in any significant way as it makes the Cayman Islands just a little less appealing to its citizens who are trying to avoid its silly direct taxation process – just another angle. A FOI request for what the UK instructions are to the Police Commissioner may be interesting…yes I know..”National Security, cannot release”, of course.
Wake up tribes people, oops I meant Caymanians….lots of forces acting here. It will be for you the public to demand a solution in a very concrete way.
Much as I don’t care for party politics the crime wave Cayman is experiencing has nothing to with them, unlike some other Caribbean countries.
Finally, a response. It is very sad that it has come to the point where criminals feel safe attacking tourists. They also feel safe committing armed robberies within feet of West Bay and George Town Police Stations. Why? Because they are not afraid of the Police. The few good police we have, are unarmed and cannot respond to armed crimes with a mere stick.
With all due respect Mr. Premiere, your own people have been going through this for several years now. Where is your outrage for them? This crime against the tourists and the medical student stabbing are all over the internet. Whatever you are going to do, do it now because it will soon be too late. Here’s a hint, go though the police force, get rid of all who cannot read, write and speak English fluently and start again. Recruit officers who give a …….. about what happens here.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. It’s time to touch the 3rd rail of crime/political discussions and just say it: SUSPEND OUR CIVIL RIGHTS! I want to be randomly searched in my car/home/work/whatever. I will gladly subject myself to a random search, knowing full well that others will be caught with drugs and guns and (hopefully) be put away for LIFE. Cameras are not enough. More officers are not enough. Longer sentences are not enough. It’s time to get serious and overwhelm these criminals with oppressive and aggressive tactics. I don’t care if I’m inconvenienced anymore as long as I know I’m SAFE. Currently, the island is DYING. If you can’t see that, then you are blind.
Your words remind me of the fools who once said: "I see no good in having several lords; Let one alone be master, let one alone be king."
He who is willing to give up freedom for safety deserves neither
We need another prayer day. The wonderful effects of the last one have worn off.
I know that you are being sarcastic, but the Bible says that prayer alone will not do it. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says: “…if my people, who are called by my name, will (1) humble themselves and (2) pray and (3) seek my face and (4) turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”
Really?? And who is at fault for this crime rate??
Duh…the criminals who else?
Blaming others for the criminals behavior is crap.
Really? Who’s at fault? Simple, not only the criminals, but the people who know who they are, who shelter them, who don’t step forward and inform the police, that’s who, people who won’t do their civic duty.
“Intolerable”
Well come home and do something instead of galavanting all over the world.
We are suffering in Cayman while you are spending the Caymanian peoples money living like an Emperor and telling us from the UK that crime is “intolerable”.
Cha man, come deal with the problems here because you not solving any problems by travelling, no matter if you have your “spin-doctors” trying to fool us.
Come home or step down!
Mr Premier, you have my full support like many other concerned Caymanianians and residents in curtailing this evil which can destroy the main pillar of our economy.
we the people, leaving politics aside, should work with the the elected representatives in dealing with it. Lets us not excuses and justifications for the crime, but just stamp it out.
Let us all be aware, that if crimes increase, people will takelawinto their hand to protect themselves. Let us avoid reaching that point.
Where’s he been??!??! It has been "intolerable" for the past two years! Welcome to our world McKeeva..
“McKeeva Bush has expressed his outrage over the assault and revealed that the crime prevention strategy will be considered by Cabinet next week.” This is great! I am glad that although the Premier is overseas on business, he is making strategic plans to deal once again, with crime directly.
The apparent organized crime in the Cayman Islands understated and referred to by RCIP Commissioner as gang wars and gang activity; is none other than local and other foreign criminal agents and operators that have emerged as strong, out of control and undefeated between 2005 and 2011. This loose association of criminal groups, gangs or syndicates share an apparent well organized structure behavioral pattern. These criminal groups known as the most feared usually in a small town, village, society or territory I which it operates its racketeering. Statistics show that this breed of home grown, local and international organized criminals have primary activity which is protection racketeering and they are involved in firearms trafficking, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, fraud loan sharking, money laundering, political corruption, and rum running. All of the above these criminals are involved with has already been accomplished by the Mafia or Mafiosa.
The Cayman Islands r governor, the premier and Cabinet has recently announced their fresh look at deterring crime in this region of an Island that time once forgot. A place that was once innocent where the natives slept with their doors and windows open undisturbed and safe as can be. But time has changed all that.
Off shoots of the criminal activity has now emerged in the Cayman Islands in the latter part of this last decade following waves of reckless emigration policies, generous immigration policies because of greed for more and more money raked in by high work permit fees, and the neglect of providing education for Cayman’s youth. "Gang member" is also employed to name criminal organizers operating under a similar structure, whether Caymanian by birth, Caymanian by Status grant as well as foreign organized crime groups including guest workers on an expensive work permit .
Caymanians obviously object to organized crime in general: While there was a time when people were reluctant to acknowledge organized criminal activity, nowadays Caymanians have gone so far in the opposite direction that it has become an overused term and no solutions to the problem.
We must no longer be willing to accept the habit of speaking of the Cayman criminal activity in descriptive and all-inclusive terms that make it possible to stack up phenomena that are indeed showing all signs related to the field of organized crime and then deny that it exists.
The genesis of home grown criminals partnering with foreign criminal should not be hard to trace because criminals are very secretive However, it is widely believed that its deadliest seeds were planted in the 2003 Status grants population surge,a transition out of foreign sleeper criminals and their ability to easily assimilate into the criminal elements of Cayman’s local communities.
. The result has been a huge increase in crime from 2003 to 2011. There must be a deportation plan put in place for those using status grant as a license to commit crimes and life sentences for those who are determined to continue committing crimes who are citizens by birth. We must rid our society of these detriments to our financial and tourist industry that is in jeopardy because of criminal activity in this region..
The nobles such as the Governor and the premier of the Cayman Islands also released their frustrations and “words of reform to stop crime with “0” tolerance policies. It is without question that the state must take over the task of law enforcement, which has also put at risk the Cayman Islands national security. However, the authorities seem to not be capable of properly enforcing the law to put these criminals away, largely due to their inexperience with this new and high level crimes Lack of manpower was not also a problem, but the quality of manpower is a huge problem.
If the surge in high crime in the Cayman Islands is to be resolved, then it is hereby recommended that the Cayman Islands leadership in their desperation for peace, do something they have never done before. Millions of dollars have been wasted on consultants that have no relevance to the country’s needs, only political wants. Its time to pay someone with the caliber of Mr. Rudy Guliani at least $1 million dollars to clean up Cayman of its criminals and give the country back to its people put their money where their mouth is and hire RUDY JULIANI, former Mayor of the city of New York, A businessman, American Italian Lawyer and politician from New York. He served two terms as Mayor of New York from 1994 to 2001.
A Democrat and Independent in the 1970s, and a Republican since the 1980s, Giuliani served in the United States attorney’s Office for the Southern district of New York. He prosecuted a number of high-profile cases, including ones against organized crime and Wall Street financiers..
It is GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE THAT Rudy Giuliani was credited with initiating improvements and with a reduction in organized crime pressing the city of New York’s quality of life initiatives. He gained notoriety and attention for his leadership, during and after 9/11 and received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2002.
What better qualified individual worthy of $1million dollars to cleanup crime in a world Leading Financial center and tourism destination like the Cayman Islands.
I recommend that if the premier and Governor Duncan Taylor are serious about fighting crime that they make Mr. Guliani an offer he can’t refuse.
We want our country back. .
How true, “A place that was once innocent where the natives slept with their doors and windows open undisturbed and safe as can be.”
And that is by far the most significant change I have seen over the past 2-3 years. Friends now keep their doors locked and are even afraid to answer them for fear of being greeted by an intruder.
NYC was not cleaned up by going to war with organized crime in the first instance. The start of the cleanup began with the Transit system. NYC brought in a Transit Commissioner who made it priority to simply clean up the system, the "Broken Glass" Theory. New, graffiti-free, comfortable, reliable, and on-time service led to a decrease in subway crime and fare-beating. The theory was transferred to the NYPD and the new Commissioner began enforcing quality of life statutes at ground level. Pan-handling, vagrancy, truancy, loitering, street-level dealing were aggressively prosecuted. Residents were required to keep their homes and businesses clean and tidy. Citizens complained of being rousted for seemingly insignificant offences while real criminals were getting away with murder. Lo and behold crime fell tremendously in the city as it had in the subway.
Guiliani was credited with the save but he did not get in the way of the Commissioners as Mayor and allowed the theory to work.
You don’t need to hire Guiliani for a million bucks and I doubt he would take the pay cut and the headache. Take the criminology reports off the LA shelves (that you’ve probably already paid a million bucks for) and use them. I’m certain there is something in there that you could use.
So there is outrage now that it has affected tourists from other countries? What about the crime that affects the citizens of Cayman? They have been suffering from increasing crime for years now. Seems Big Mac is more concerned about money than the safety of people.
I agree. Local businesses are robbed, local people are accosted, home invasions it’s "crime" as usual and goes unnoticed by the Premier. Not everyone can have a security fence and a bodyguard. Why does it then become "intolerable" when touri$t$ are subjected to crime?
A make-work project! Bodyguards for tourists.
Oh, please…give me a break….McKeewa should have been expressing his outrage long before now…and insisting that workable strategies be implemented years ago…he’s only NOW speaking up??? Kinda like closing the gate after the cow is gone, eh, buddy??
Hun, he can only now speak up, he hasn’t been home long enough to keep up with the news, wha you expect? I am sure his schedule is WAY too busy to read CNS when he’s wining and dining across the world and flying first class.
Several things to read between the lines here with this "sound bite". 1) The Premier is still pointing his finger at The Governor and The Commissioner. 2) Crime is now intolerable for The Premier with over an armed robbery per week last year. Why not intolerable in 2010? 3) Mentality of persons doing these acts. Mr. Bush they are criminals moving freely within the country. The people know the mentality of these criminals and have been asking daily for the Government to do something about it for at least 2 years now. 4) The Governor has been pro active and wishes to address crime and the deeper social problems in order to fix the situation. The Premier will need a focus group and consultant to address crime now.
Day late and a CI dollar short Mr. Premier. The Cabinet and MLA’s should have been meeting with The Governor and Commissioner years ago offering district assistance and intelligence to fight the war on crime. I get the distinct feeling that "if" we had a ruling cabinet that just maybe we would already be 18 month’s into fighting crime.
Did someone FINALLY wake up to the reality of what is finally going on here?Welcome to the real world again Mr.Premier.Two years in the making(Crime Strategy).I guess we can wait another week for something to be put in place(Maybe).Please remember that actions speak MUCH louder than words.
I agree with you McKeeva! This is terrible and “WE ALL” have to come together and do our best in raising our young and educating people. The commissioner is using all his resources as well, but this is a COMMUNITY EFFORT. I believe the rest now is in God’s hands.
It seems like Bush is the only one seeing crime so “intolerable” and is trying to improve the economy. But haven’t heard the Commissioner of Police make such a remark. It makes me wonder about him. Crime is effecting this island seriously, the ppm has really gotten us in an economic mess.
No, all the Commissioner stated was there were 15 known criminals and the police were watching them very carefully…I think someone must have fell asleep during their watch…..crime has been on an uprise since the late 1999. No one wanted to address it, law enforcement ignored it and the majority were in denial. The writing was on the wall then, there were gangs walking about in their colours, businesses getting robbed, ATM machines getting broken into, but again the same saying "we have no crime, we have no gangs, we never had a category 5 hurricane". Do I need to say more?????