Ellio alleges cop atrocities
(CNS): One of the UDP’s George Town MLAs has accused the RCIPS of atrocities and called for the complaints commissioner to have oversight of the police service. Ellio Solomon filed a private member’s motion in the Legislative Assembly, which was debated on Thursday, asking government to do something about the current situation that allows the cops to investigate themselves. Solomon, who was part of the UDP while it was in government for three and a half years, called upon the interim minority administration, which has less than ten weeks left in office, to address the issue. In his debate he said that “many atrocities” were occurring in the police and questioned how the RCIPS could investigate the people but the police are only investigated by themselves.
Solomon accused the police commissioner of misleading the Legislative Assembly when he told Finance Committee that no assault of a junior cop by a higher ranking officer had occurred when it was later exposed that, indeed, an assault had been allegedand investigated. This case, he said, was the tip of the iceberginside the RCIPS, as it appeared the police answer to no one.
The UDP MLA said there was a need for an independent organisation that is neutral which can investigate properly instead of allowing the RCIPS to deal with complaints behind closed doors. He said it was ironic that the only government departments that cannot be investigated by the Office of the Complaints Commissioner were those “that are the instruments of the UK government".
Pointing to the damage done by Operation Tempura, the costly internal police corruption investigation that came to nought throughout 2007 and 2008, he said it was still shrouded in secrecy when it was the Cayman Islands that had footed the bill.
“This is not about kicking out jolly old England,” he said. “There is a need for an equal and level playing field,” he said adding that people were “sitting in ivory towers and subject to no one".
"England allows a lot of things to happen here that they do not allow in England but that’s the territory,” he said. “We are not talking about the hard working British man in street or that comes here, we are talking about the UK government,” Solomon said, as he suggested the UK operated one way at home and another abroad.
He said he would be accused of electioneering but that did not alter the fact that it is not right for the police to investigate their own when members of the public “have suffered at the hands of RCIPS”.
Solomon made no mention of his party’s leader, former premier McKeeva Bush, and his troubles with the police following his arrest in December on suspicion of theft and offences under the anti- corruption law and his subsequent fall from high office as a result of a split in the UDP ranks.
Speaking on behalf of Cabinet, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said that since government introduced the new police bill, it has been aware of the need to change the law and not have police investigating themselves. He said government has plans for a public complaints authority but so far establishing such a body has not proved economically feasible. He said government was looking at other options to create a fair process and has also examined the UK’s own independent police complaints commission. Manderson agreed that the situation needed addressing as there has to be some form of civilian oversight to deal with police complaints.
“In the UK they have a separate agency and police don’t investigate themselves,” Manderson said. “That’s what we want to see. Civilian oversight is essential as the police are ultimately responsible to the public.”
The deputy governor said a lot of work had already been done and government would accept the motion to examine the possibility of the OCC taking over the complaints process. He said there was a need to improve relations between the police and the public as the community must have confidence that there is an open and transparent process in place.
Category: Politics
"…atrocities…"
Give the Foolio a break, maybe he was just trying to spell "atrocious".
Where did Ellio get that police cap and those police clothes?
No matter what Caymanians Will fail if we keep fighting and bringing down our own. im sure you all will be fighting all the way to your extinction
If the RCIPS had an independent Internal Affairs Dept, they'd be very busy.
The RCIP is a very small police service and could easily be overseen by the Independent Police Complaints Commision in London or a devolved department here on Cayman.
The only problem with that is be prepared for a sudden loss of police officers who think they are untouchable at the moment or who are aligned with politicians and their stooges. That's not a bad thing, it just leaves a large man power hole that cannot be filled locally. You may end up employing just as much trouble as you already have because excellence comes at a price and not just the cost of a local airfare. If you want high standards of policing, then get rid of the local hangers on and dead beats, send home those Caribbean officers who are only here for a safe ride and employ officers who can be trusted to police their own communities with impartiality. Then bring in proper police trainers from the UK and recruit UK/US and Canadian officers to bolster the numbers. However, this time don't allow local dead beats to treat such expertise and experience with undisguised and ignorant disdain, (as they have in the past and probably still continue to do so).
History has taught us that if your face doesn't fit around here, (no matter who you are) Commissioners of Police included, you are open to spurious allegations and have to leave the islands. I wouldn't trust Cayman's politicians as far as I could throw them, especially when police or law enforcement matters are concerned.
Cayman simply cannot be trusted to run an independent police service or independent police oversight committee. There are just too many business, family and nationalist connections in play to make such a committee credible in the eyes of all residents of these islands.
Part of the problem with RCIPS is the direct control by the UK. Bringing in more UK control will not likely help the problem. I support the move for this to be subject to the Complaints Commissioner's Office provided she is given the necessary resources to accomplish the task.
This comment is far closer to the truth than even the author perhaps realizes. except for one small detail: It is not merely powerful and influential locals who broker power and influence within RCIPS, there is a very powerful faction of elitist UK officers who want to run things in a particular way. These individuals have influence beyond their rank and manipulate and coerce behind the scenes. These people need to be exposed and rooted out. Their influence is insidious and they work only to promote themselves and their chosen friends.
If Cayman is to enjoy a truly independent and democratic police service that serves the people, then closer scrutiny of recruitment and selection procedures needs to be instigated.
How about a basic entrance exam, similar to the Canada /Australia / UK police entrance exams covering literacy, numeracy, English and general knowledge?
That would keep any officers out that are below standard however, again, it may mean a large whole needs to be filled which cannot be done locally.
The closest thing to an atrocity is that haircut.
You really need to consider what happens in the RCIPS – you would be surprised.
only a couple more months of this foolishness thank god………
So that’s the best you can do to get the heat off Big Daddy, little puppy? Careful, it might just get him charged a little sooner.
The motion was filed in September and Mckeeva was arrested in December. Clearly the Motion had nothing to do with McKeeva.
Investigations have been going on on Mckeeva for years now.
The heat was on long before his actual arrest.
We might not like this guy…and he is blatantly electioneering and campaigning in behalf of his 'master' but he does have a point…and a very strong one too.
Operation Tempura might have done a lot more good had the investigators focused on what their original omit was, which was the corruption within the RCIPS but they went stepping on the wrong people's toes…and the entire exercise turned out into a fiasco but….
The reports and complaints that were filed by the public with them on RCIPS corruption…and possibly even crimes committed by police officers has never been made public…
Even though 9 police officers were eventually fired or retired by the RCIPS as a result of Operations Tempura and Cealt.
Cayman's public has the very same rights as all British citizens have to be free from police abuse and to have the RCIPS and its membership to be held openly accountable to the public when questions on the legality of their actions arise.
Otherwise, the Cayman Islands is nothing more than a 'police state'.
That Cameo tribute band is looking more and more like his next career move.
WORD UP!!
The need for civilian oversight of the police is a requirement of civilized society.
However, the danger here is in the definition of "civilian". If the Caymanian powers that be appoint the usual group of cronies and stooges then corruption will thrive and flourish. Can you imagine Joey Ebanks as the head of the police oversight committee? I shudder.
Mr. Solomon's motion – which was accepted by the Deputy Governor – recommended that the investigation of maladministration be done by the Complaints commissioner.
Who appoints the complaints commissioner and what process is followed to ensure integrity?
Someone is making sure that Frank doesn't get the criminal vote all to himself.
How many brothers does this guy have and how many of them are RCIPS officers?
Ellio filed his Motion on September 21st – good reporting would have stated that.
McKeeva was arrested on Decmber 11th: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20679259
So would you idiots find something else to talk about. The Motion was filed to address the Maladministration in the RCIPS.
The only thing that's been slaughtered out of hand here is the English language, by Mr Solomon … who I'm guessing didn't inherit the wisdom of his namesake.
Focus on the Motion and how it will address maladministration.
Should maladministration be tolerated anywhere?
Foolio, please sit your a** down. Cha man!!
Boy some mothers raise some fool children.
He will never rest in his efforts to help eradicate maladministration.
Really? He opposed the motion of no confidence which rid the country of some maladministration.
Err, I think its time to bring the yellow van and the straight jacket for Hellio, better make that two, one in XXL.
I'm sure Elios is concerned about Cayman's image when he opens his mouth. Perhaps, any year now, he will take the time to learn about the power of things such as e-commerce / internet.
I wonder what this guy sees when he look in the mirror? Does he not see the many thousands of people standing behind laughing at him?
Ellio, one question. Why did you vote against the motion to recover the costs of Operation Tempura? It's all documented in Hansard 22 Ocober 2009 that you weren't so critical of it back then.
Atrocities? Really?
He's just imitating the TCI premier who used the same word last week against the UK. Neither know what it means.
Yes you fool – read and you will hear about them
Uneducated moron, look up 'Atrocities' in the dictionary, the English dictionary, not the do-it yourself Cayman version.
Atrocities: Something very cruel, extreme cruelty or something very bad.
That applies to torture, ethnic cleansing or mass execution, not a dimintutive provincial police service investigating itself.
"…ethnic cleansing…"
Isn't that the proper term for "rollover"?
Using ethnic cleansing the way you do is like people who use Hitler to try to make their points. Rollover has nothing to do with ethnic cleansing of course and everything to do with your immigration status in the country which is unrelated to your ethnicity. There are Caymanians and permanent residents of every ethnicity and persons on work permit of every ethnicity.
I'm reading and I don't hear anything. Should I be reading out loud?
What Elio Bush puppy dog is really saying is.."Leave my master alone…how dare you investigate my honorable leader.."
Stupid – the Motion was filed in September 2012 as result of continous complaints from the RCIP about unfair treatment as it relates to discipline, and also members of the public.
Ignorance is bliss, but some you all are ignorance no rass
throw him a cookie now throw him a cookie good boy
Elio The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Hope it is not over your head. You can always do a search.
…………him and the "jordanian".
Yeah…where is the Jordanian in all this….in de Nile…?
Stupid the motion was filed in september, and mckeeva was arrested in december.
Ahh but he was being investigated since 2010.
Really looking forward to Cap'n Eugenes private member bill next.
who?
Amen. All these years he’s been working on it, selflessly giving so much of his time, his wisdom and, well, his sheer essence. It must be a real doozie.
We need to buy Foolio a dictionary so he can learn what big words like "atrocities" mean.
He thought it was Astro Cities, his head is still in the clouds.
He don't need a dictionary, he could just look in the mirror.
Sorry for you if you think thats a big word.
Try: ignoranus.
Better still, try ignoramous, you ignoramous.
Ignoramus, actually. Better to let the typos and misspellings slide.
Better still, try ignoramus, you ignoramus.
Doh !! I said try it not use it sucker. Irony, look that up.
In general people who use double exclamation marks and the word "sucker" tend to have a limited grasp of what irony means. But I suppose they have a better chance of correctly spelling little words like "irony" than difficult words like "ignoramus", even if they have no real concept of what the such words mean. May the ignoramuses (or ignorami) of Cayman unite, you have nothing to lose but your limited grasp of irony. Or should that be "Ignorami of Cayman unite!! We have nothing to lose but or limited grasp of irony, sucker!!!"
I think he meant what he wrote. It's a new word . It was invented by a gentleman named Hugh Janus.
Hahhahaha WOndering if that was on purpose..
LOL
I have a horrible suspicion this poster was serious with this post. If so, a couple of little things, one "that's" not "thats", there is a contraction and second the word is "ignoramus", ignoramus. Although "ignoranus" might be a good way of describing where the nonsense that poster speaks comes out of.
These are simply UDP tactics to try to undermine the public perception of the RCIPF.
The hope is that it will minimise the effect of Mac getting charged on one or more of the five criminal investigations he is the subject of!
Caymanians and the people of West Bay in particular, arent you tired of being lied to by Bush and the UDP?
PPM, Governor, FCO, Englishmen, Donkey Faces, Devil worshipers, Naysayers, Stopaholics etc etc etc.
When is it UDP/Bush incompetence and criminality?
Aren't you tired of being fed enough just to keep you from starving but not enough that you have hope for the future?
Dont you want better for your children?
Those of you who have supported the UDP in the past, are you better off today? How many of you are driving Ferrari's?
When Mac is charged I hope reality surely hits home.
The only atrocities I see are that Bush, Elio and his followers are still free and that we are still paying them. That hurts my heart, head and pocket.
Then you need to look at the RCIPS and really understand the way officers are treated there.
Investigating for Maladministration is not about helping Mac -its about ensuring that the RCIP stops treating the public and some of its own officers like shit.
Even if he’s charged, found guilty and jailed, (certain) people in web will still believe his conspiracy theories and believe he’s innocent. He could probably still win a mla seat from northward. You have to give this man credit for his unmatched charisma typical of a dictator or cult leader.
Cult leaders feed off the uneducated and the hopeless. Just keep them in the dark and when desperation kicks in throw them a hand, and all of the sudden you are their saviour. I am not sure how you solve this without educating the district.
Exaggeration is self defeating. The Holocaust was an attrocity, what is happening in Syria is an attrocity, whatever wrongs you attribute to the RCIP are definitely not attrocities! You may have a point about their self regulation but dont debase your argument by grossly overstating it!
Well worded, perceptive reply.
Ellio won't have a clue what it means. That confirms he ia an atroticious politician – and that is no exaggeration.
atroticious politician?
Yes – bit like my typing somethimes. Well spotted.
Ah well, I suppose nobody's prefect.
An inspector being wrongly reduced to the rank of a constable is atrocious too.
I don't think the fact that to date the police have not explained why it took them 6 months to tell the public an expensive piece of equipment was stolen is anything short of an atrocity for an organization that people should be able to trust.
Whilst he does have a point that I actually agree with here, I find it hilarious that Foolio, of all people, is suddenly trying to appear all moralistic and ethical… when his own "team" are so against being policed themselves. And I am so sick of him blaming the UK for his own party's failings (and admittedly that of previous administrations). When it comes to the UK asking Cayman to have the same policies (protocol for inviting tenders, FFR, etc.), one minute they're moaning, complaining and spreading alarmist propaganda about the UK forcing stuff on us, and then when it suits them they blame the UK when Cayman doesn't follow suit. I only wish they did enforce everything here that they have in the UK – we'd be a lot better off in terms of finance, transparency and accountability all around. So try enforce PACE on the police, the same public policies for public officials as they have in the UK (so I can freely look up your expenses online), try recognise the same legal and other qualifications here that are recognised in the UK so that your children can learn and have the same opportunities rather than putting up obstacles… I could go on, the list is endless.
Geez man the island is damn near flat and STILL they can't get a "level playing field". What am I supposed to tell Usain Bolt when he gets here?