Archive for September 18th, 2011
Taylor calls top level meeting
(CNS): The Cayman Islands governor has said that he will be meeting with the premier, the deputy governor, the attorney general, the director of public prosecutions and the commissioner of police Monday to address the escalating gang violence in West Bay. In a statement released Sunday evening Duncan Taylor said he was “horrified and disgusted” about the three murders that have taken place over the last five days, describing the violence as “shocking and intolerable”. He said that the meeting would allow the country’s top officials to look at ways within the law to deal with the unacceptable violence and find a way to stop it.
“We will look very carefully and critically at what we are doing now and consider creatively and exhaustively the range of other possible options available to us,” the governor stated. “This level of violence is completely unacceptable and we must and will do whatever is necessary to stop it continuing.”
He said that last year the RCIPS had risen to the challenge to put a stop to a string of gun related murders in early 2010 and had taken some dangerous people off the streets. He said that in order for them to do so again they needed the help of the community and urged people who knew who the gunmen were or where the guns were hidden to come forward.
“There are some of you in the community who have information that could help the police apprehend these killers. If you are one of them, I urge you to come forward with this information. It will be treated in confidence. Please do the right thing: help stop this senseless killing and make our communities safer places for us all,” Taylor said.
Teen shot in 3rd WB murder
(CNS): A West Bay teenager has become the third murder victim in the district this week after being shot dead in Andreson Road at around 10pm on Saturday night. When paramedics arrived on the scene of the shooting Preston Rivers was already dead. It is understood the young victim was shot at by two masked gunmen and the killing is believed to be related to two other fatal shootings in West Bay on Tuesday and Thursday night, when Robert Bush and Andrew Baptist were gunned down in what police have saidis the latest spate of tit-for-tat gang related killings. One of the suspects was described by police as male, about 5”10” tall and dressed in a blue polo shirt with white stripes and a blue shirt covering his face.
On Friday morning senior police officers had stated that the patrols would be increased this weekend but they could not be on every street corner. Although the police have been given an increase in the budget this week, this cash has not yet turned into resources or an increased headcount though all officers have been placed on extra time.
Having launched the third murder investigation of the week, police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to call the major incident room in West Bay police station on 949 3999, mobile numbers 926-1773 or 925-6761. Alternatively, people can speak to any officer at any of the RCIPS’ Stations, call the police crime hotline 949 7777 or Crime stoppers at 800 (TIPS) 8477 if they wish to remain anonymous.