CITA calls on community to ‘give up’ criminals
(CNS): As the number of crimes against visitors and businesses related to tourism continue to increase, the president of the local industry body has called on the community to help the police and reveal who is committing the crime. As the Cayman Islands Tourism Association board of directors, joining the growing chorus, expressed its concerns about the erosion of safety and increasing crime levels in Cayman, CITA President Harry Lalli called on the people to step up and help the police stop the criminals and stop turning a blind eye. In the wake of two recent violent incidents relating to visitors, growing unconfirmed reports of bag snatches around the cruise terminals and bag thefts on the beach, CITA noted that one of Cayman’s biggest selling points was being eroded.
“We can place blame on many doorsteps — the police, the economy, a decrease in family values — but at the end of the day it is everyone’s business,” said Lalli. “Crime affects all of us, from taxi drivers to tour operators, hotel workers to restaurant servers, from professionals in our financial industry to the core infrastructure of civil servants and utilities. We the people must now stand up against this behaviour and effectively communicate information that can help resolve, apprehend and stop these criminals. We can no longer look the other way, as this problem is not going to go away by itself.”
Having raised the issue of crime on a number of occasions, the association warned that it is having a direct impact on tourism. “One of our island’s biggest selling points as a tourism destination has been safety. This is one driving marketing approaches in order to differentiate ourselves and compete against other Caribbean islands. The Cayman Islands have always been able to offer a safe environment in addition to geographic beauty, and now it seems our reputation as a safe destination is being compromised,” the industry body warned.
“No amount of advertising can reverse the effects of bad PR due to crime. As a country where our economy depends on the success of tourism there is a need to explore ways to combat this in a robust manner. The CITA offers its full support of every effort to decrease the incidence of crime on our islands, to solve the crimes being committed, and to prosecute the offenders to the full extent of the law in order to protect Cayman from the unfortunate criminal activities,” the directors said in an official statement.
In a recent meeting with the business community organised by the Chamber of Commerce as part of its ‘Be Informed’ series the police commissioner, David Baines, had delivered a mixed message when he said that Cayman was not, as the media would have everyone believe, going to “hell in a hand basket” and that crime was still relatively low.
At the same meeting, however, Baines spoke about how police resources were being stretched, that Cayman was becoming a centre for serious drug trafficking, that crime, like everywhere in the region, was increasing in Cayman and the RCIPS was struggling to tackle the rise in robberies in particular because some were very well planned, and with no assistance from the community they were difficult to solve.
Category: Local News
No Toilet Paper in public restrooms..where is the CITA on this.
This rant hasn’t anything to do with the present spat of criminal activety on island but does have something to do with the tourist product. I have company here on island visiting. It is my understanding that when a tourist/visitor comes to the island in order to drive an automobile, he must first obtain a temporary drivers’ license. Attempting to be a good citizen, I leave work an hour early, pick up my guest and go to the Motor Vehicle Department on Crewe Road. Upon ariving and telling the security guard why we were the guard promptly asked us if my visitor had his passport withhim. Unfortunatley he didn’t, no temporary license that day as it was too late to go home, pick up the passport and return because the Department closes at 4:00pm. Anyway to soldier on, my visitor returns the next day armed with his passport, tells the security guard why he is there, is given the appropiate waiting number and…. get ready for this…. waits for an hour before his number is called. Upon presentling himself at the wicket he is promptly informed he hasn’t filled in the green form. Still no license after waiting the hour…..gets the form fills it in and finally a ticket to ride! Do I need say anymore more?
The main cause of crime on this island is drugs. While one may say un-employment, that has contributed to the rise in crime, but our most overwhelming contributor is DRUGS. Too many young persons take to the easy way of living and are encouraged by their very own family members. I have seen, heard and made reports but it all fell on deaf ears. Easy money today, will cause problems tomorrow.
We, as parents need to stop cloaking our children and seek help, when they are straying down the wrong path. It is never too late to do good. Don’t feel ashamed to say my child has a problem, seek help and someone will come to your rescue.
Has anyone stopped to analyse the word ‘Tourism’. With that comes good and bad. The problems at the night clubs and other social gatherings are the results of bad behavior, figure out the rest of the puzzle.
The RCIPS marine fleet sitting idle on their trailers and awaiting sale while the Police Commissioner says we are becoming a center for serious drug trafficking. What’s wrong with this picture?
If the cita members would pay better wages, pay overtime, contribute to pension funds and hire caymanians. . . . . maybe the public would be more helpful.
Contribute a part of your profit in a reward fund.
Fire employees that are involved in/use drugs. You will probably find them in the condo selling, commission addicted group.
Make your product affordable to locals.
Every woman on this island needs to turn in the man who owns a blue NBA shirt. One of these men is the thug who robbed the East End tourists on the beach and I guarantee that 17 yr old thugs do not do their own laundry.
Mommas, Aunties, neighbors, if you think your boy next door is a thug, just call 1-800 tips. It is time to stop protecting these "but, he was such a good boy" those days are GONE. If you know of a boy or a man without a job and may be up to no good, STOP topping up their phones, giving them money, and give their names to the authorities. The police can ONLY help if they know who they are looking for!!!