Top cop gets 4 more years
(CNS): David Baines, the RCIPS commissioner, has had his contract renewed, giving the senior British cop another four years at the helm of Cayman’s police service from 1 June this year. In a release form his office, Governor Duncan Taylor said that Baines had done an excellent job in challenging circumstances over the past four kil society representatives on the National Security Council, Dan Scott and Brigitte Kirconnell-Shaughness. They said, however, that levels of crime in Cayman were unacceptable and more work was needed to build on some prevention and prosecution successes. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
“As representatives of civil society we support the renewal of Commissioner David Baines’s contract for another four years. The crime level that the Cayman Islands is experiencing is unacceptable but we believe that the efforts of Commissioner Baines and the RCIPS have led to the successful prevention and prosecution of serious crime, though much work is still to be done,” Scott and Kirkconnell said.
Taylor remarked he was delighted that David Baines had accepted the contract.
“He has provided much needed effective leadership to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), which has led to a welcome and consistent fall in crime rates over the last three years. Yet there is still much to be done to bring crime down to the lowest possible level. I believe that Mr Baines is the right person to build on the foundations he has laid, to ensure that we continue to see falling crime rates in the next four years,” he said.
Following the renewal of his contract Baines said it had been a privilege to lead the RCIPS over the past fouryears.
“This has been a challenging time for the service as we have sought to rebuild our numbers and our capability to stem the serious and violent crime which has been threatening law and order in the Cayman Islands,” he said. “I am grateful to the government and all members of the Legislative Assembly who, despite budget pressures, unanimously agreed to restore previous numbers and funding to allow the RCIPS to build its capability to confront the threat.’
He said the return of the former budget levels had enabled the RCIPS to stabilise officer numbers and provide much needed training across all branches and ranks, which has proved critical in allowing the police to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
“We have come a long way in four years. Crime rates remain too high and we still have much to do but we have a strong foundation now which will allow us to build on what we have achieved to date,” Baines stated. “I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those officers who have played their part in supporting the changes that we have made and in delivering the improved service that we provide to our communities. Their commitment makes a difference every single day and helps us to continue to deliver our objective of making these Islands a safer place to live and work in.”
The news comes in the wake of a number of internal issues and question marks around several officers and the internal police procedures, as well as two law suits naming Baines, one from a serving constable over an alleged assault by a senior officer, and one from a police officer who was dismissed by Baines without reason after 26 years in the service.
Check back to CNS Monday for more on the internal trials and tribulations of the RCIPS.
Category: Crime
There is a problem with the Governor's actions.
The rest of the Civil Service is told that vacancies must be advertised. Why? To ensure every opportunity is afforded to getting the best possible person for the job. So, in the absence of having any other "opponent" in an interview process, how does the Governor know that this is the best person for the job? If the Governor did not want to consult present MLAs because it is too close to an election and existing MLAs that are members of the National Security Council now, may not be around after May 22, why not offer a 1-year contract and then consult the new MLAs that are placed on the National Security Council, after May, about an extended contract?
It is also a joke that the (maybe) Leader of the Opposition says he's not sure of his ability to comment safely on this matter because he is unsure of the constitutional position since the Legislative Assembly has been shut-down. it is laughable because Mr McLaughlin was the Chief Architect of the present Constitution! His position is wrong because MLAs are still getting paid even though the House is closed for business: so, they are not MLAs because the LA is closed and therefore he cannot comment too strongly on the Baines extension but, he and others are MLAs when it comes to receiving pay after the House has closed down, what games. The other Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bush, will probably go on a tirade soon too. He says he is also the Leader of the Opposition, because the UDP has the same number of MLAs, four, as the PPM ( I don't use Progressives because that is mere rebranding to try and fool the public into thinking they're something new, when they are not.) Governor your actions are wrong and you have just given Joey Ebanks more fodder for his Taylorism and the "corrupt elite" rant.
He's the best commissioner we've ever had, he's the right man for the job and he's doing a great job. Just three of a multitude of resons that extending his contract was an excellent decision by HE. We should all cut the complaining and thank Mr Baines for agreeing to put up with the small minded nonsense that is spewed out on the blogs for another 4 years. Thanks Mr. Baines for agreeing to stay – it's a good day for the Cayman Islands.
A key fact that people have overlooked:
The worn-out reason for foreigh police/Commissioner was that "Caymanians cant police their own".
SO then isn't the same tru not that Caymanians are in a Minority??
That only justifies (using their warped logic) why Caymanians should indeed have the helm at this time – and fill out the ranks.
Regardless of whether the COP deserves another contract or not, my question is what sort of example is being set for the civil service here? The reason i say this is that all current contracts on expiry require job advertisements to be placed and interviews held.
You people have to be more proactive instead of complaining!
Find out when these people's contracts are up, and protest them BEFORE they are renewed.
Actually — start protesting them consistently today, and u might just get somewhere before the bells start to chime for Cayman.
Why has there not been any succession planning to get rid of him in the 4 years that he has been here? Is there one for the the next four years?
Never happen going to happen!
The people can have their say(means nothing)…Governor Duncan Taylor will have his way!(means something)
It's called Colonialism folks…Motherland taking care of her blokes…
Congratulations Mr Baines. Maybe now you'll be gracious enoughto let the Cayman public know what happened about the faxed demand for payment for real estate services?
lol…wish they diid keep Haines…would have been better than this one..
Why is it that the Government demands that we train Caymanians to replace the permit holders we have employed yet go against their own policy and give out another 4 year contract to Baines. Don't tell me he is not replacable. We have had so many English Comissioners, they must be a dime a dozen in England.. From what I gather quite a few of the previous ones have Cayman status now..
I am appalled that the Governor, Dan and Bridgette knowing the rule of the land would engage in something such as this knowing that it circumvents that which the government seeks to enforce on the private sector.
What ever happened to leading by example? Baines is not God and to the amount of money that has been spent on the RCIPS during his tenure should show some type of effective policy yet all we see is low morale amongst the officers, officers being fired or suing the commisioner, cases going unresolved or thrown out of court because of lack of evidence or evidence contamination…The list goes on.
It hink it's time to put Baines on the next BA flight, First Class if necessary and bring in the next Englishman if it has become impossible for us to train a Caymanian for this position. I strongly believe though with proper guidance over the last four years of Baines being here Mr. Kurt Walton could have been trained to take up this postnow…but as usual our own Caymanians can't see the good in their own and they continue to do the same old thing and bring in the Englishmen…what makes them so much better than our own? Ah, I remember now, anything that come from foregn is better than anything local because they know how to do it much better than we do…
I say it again, it's time for Baines to go…..
While "commissioners" are not quite a dime dozen in GB, what IS a dime a dozen are Mid upper level managers who joined the police service, never saw a day of street level police work, got "Fast Tracked" into supervisory positions..bounced from one management post to another and "retired" as nothing more than a Chief Inspector or Superintedant at the most and then decided to fly out to Cayman and become the Commissioner of Police..THAT is what you have had in your last few British "Commissioners"..
Rorschach, you've made a potentially useful point so now why not name them all so we can validate it. Like Baines, Stuart Kenohan was an ACC so that rules him out of your list.
You should check Baines’s biography..joined as a constable aged 16..I’d say that counts as a fair amount of ‘street level policing’. Stick to facts
A police commissioners job should be an elected post too! Although I am tolerable of mr. Banies, I feel this job should be decided by the people.
Thank God, the people don't decide. they would probably elect the biggest criminal on the island. Oh wait, they already did that.
Look his nationality shouldn't matter more than whether he is doing the job well and I think he has done a fabulous job. I swear this is how so many people think here, that once a person is Caymanian that's all that matters. This is a load of bull. What matters is if the job is done well. At the end of the day if a person contributes postively to society whether Caymanian or foreigner then that's all that matters. Want a job? Get an education and fight for it. No one is stealing anyone's job. Can't expect some high executive position with just a high school degree or a little certificate. We are a dependency so this is the reality of being a dependency and it has done whole lot of good remaining one as we already have seen the consequences from going independent from our fellow Caribbean counterparts. Look at the lovely "leader" who was elected consecutively since 1984. He has all of the "Caymanian pride" but not an ounce of honesty and true devotion to Cayman. Baines has done more good in a few years than what SOME leaders have done in decades ( who have been committing own acts of crime). Many people including foreigners are dedicated to the betterment of Cayman and love Cayman just as much as we do. So stop complaining. Just because you're from here doesn't mean a thing. It's what you give to the community and society. You think you are entitled to a job because of being Caymanian. Look there isn't no special treatment. Work for what you want!
If he is going to be here another 4 years as Commissioner of Police then lets help get more done. Focus on policing and REMOVE him as head of the Anti-Corruption Commission. For the Anti Corruption Commission, appoint a regional person who is qualified, independent and with 3 decades of experience from the Caribbean. Do not appoint another local elite of the likes of Dan Scott,Jude Scott or Brigitte Kirkconnell. Start the list of potential hires with Mr.Trevor Munroe.
A sound decision, especially when it clear that local corruption is rampant. This is a British territory and the head of police should be British. Independence, like the famous flights leaving daily, is always available.
Caymanians are British.
Your 19th century colonialist mentality is laughable.
Mr Baines just need to stay and finish his job of locking the 2 most corupt people up no need to call names as you all full well know who they are..
Crime is up but the police are catching the criminals more often and a lot quicker than in past years – so Mr. Baines and his crew must be doing something right!
Catching them more often is right. Bringing them to justice without blundering is another thing..
I cannot believe this..What is going on with Cayman.?.Don't we believe in ourselves anymore?
It is incredible how these people come here supposedly on contract and end up t the end of the day with Cayman Status, retired and living off of us.
Why another four year contract? Why couldn't they say he has another two years and he needs to train someone to take his place? We expect they private sector to do it and then the Government does exactly the opposite..
Caymanians, we all need to stand up and be counted. We have to stop lying down and be counted. I know that we all are happy to post on here anonymously but maybe we need ot step out in th elight and make it known we are not happy…
Make sure you vote for people that are going to stand up against situations such as these…The Government and the Governor needs to abide by the law too.
Eri….when over promoted and under-prepared Caymanians were last in charge of the Force they failed to perform. Some never even showed up for work in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. The jurisdiction barely avoided descending into anarchy during those critical days when the Caymanian leadership of the police went AWOL, most probably looking after their own affairs instead of doing the job they were paid to do.
Sound like they were set up for failure..They should not have been promoted or as you say "under prepared." They should have been properly trained and then promoted..
Caymanians are decent people and can do any job just as good as any expat. You have to give them a chance but not set them up for failure…
We've had one Caymanian police commissioner. If he underperformed is sensible or just to conclude that no Caymanian could ever be fit to be Police Commissioner? We've had many underperforming Brits as Police Commissioner. Why do you not pursue your argument to its logical conclusion? Because it is based on prejudice and racism rather than sound reasoning.
It takes time to train a Service that has long had its training budget cut, but I have noticed that for the last two years the RCIP has been solving most serious crimes and securing convictions. So, let’s not be foolish and get someone who has to start from scratch again. I agree with keeping Mr. Haines. He has some good guys coming up the ranks like Kurt, Robert and Brad. Given time and experience, one of them should be skilled and qualified to become Commissioner.
Freudian slip there I think.
Surely you meant to write “Mr. Baines” not “Mr. Haines” n’est ce pas?
Whilst I agree with you about the Freudian slip thing..I can guarantee you, if Derek were in charge of the RCIPS, things would be MUCH different in Cayman than they are now..for the better..
I am so disappointed in this. What does it say to our people? For four more years we will be subjected to this man who has single handedly brought down the morale of the RCIPs to its lowest level in a long time and allowed crime to increase..
Usually when you have a bad employee you let him go not renew his contract for another four years..
Dan and Bridgette, what were you thinking?
I say the office of Police Commissioner, the office of Chief Immigration Officer, the office of Attorney General, the office of Public Prosecution, the office of Chief Justice and the office of Auditor General should be voted on by the electors/voters of these islands.
Offcourse those person would still report to the Governor but at least we the people would have say when or who manages the affairs of these offices.
So much incompetence right now in the Police and Immigration services especially and when am elected official can say the "Attorney General is our friend he is here to stay" it makes me wonder if the other seats were not polticial as well.
Just saying
Was the politician suggesting the AG is a friend? Or a friend friend?
Because we've done so well electing politicians, right?
This is ludicrous!!! You want to tell me he is the only English Commissioner that we can have. In my opinion he has been more divisive that productive. .Look at the state and low morale of the RCIPS now.. Int he private sector his a$$ would have been long gone..
We now give him four more years instead of three…watch and see if he doesn't retire and get PR as soon as he is done.
Only in Cayman..
We should now insist that the next four years a Caymanian Top Cop like Kurt Walton is groomed to be his replacement. That is what this country needs, one of our own with good morals, ethics and a law degree at the top.
We tred that already … in the aftermath of Ivan, he was even more useless than Baines.
You promoted Kurt Walton to Commissioner once before? Of you mean you once promoted a Caymanian. Shameless racism.
Good news for Cayman. It is a tough task working with this government more interested in giving money to the churches than fighting crime and he's been working with one hand tied behind his back and a lot of personal abuse. Compared to other Islands, Cayman is a safe place to live and visit. Give credit where it is due and jump of the bashing bandwagon.
You have got to be kidding me??? With all that is going on with the RCIPS, he is the best suited to handle it???? Come on people, what is wrong with us??
Whats next? The governor of Cayman would be given an additional 4 years to stay as well.
I sincerely hope so.
Hey while we are at this why don't we just throw out the "roll over' plan…doesn't apply to government, shouldn't apply to private sector
I whole heartedly agree with this statement. Rollover was always a misguided and damaging policy in every sector of the economy.
We should also abolish our rigid, archaic and simplistic labour laws, avoid the politically appointed lower level tribunals that routinely find for the employee, no matter what, then maybe, just maybe, we shall encourage the private sector to risk hiring young and unskilled Caymanians by taking away a significant risk in employing them.
Colonialism; the justification for all absurdity.
Here we go again…
Guess no one else was daft enough to want the job.
Ummm… how would we know that if the job was not advertised?
Must be a sign of the times. When I read the heading I thought something completely different!
A Caymanian in the job- you must be joking. Look what’s happened to our politicians. It’s pretty clear we need an independent person with no vested interest. I think Baines done well and it ain’t finished yet !
Good decision. The territory needs a strong hand policing it at the moment given the high levels of local criminality and corruption.
Baines has not had the perfect record. I strongly disagree that he should be given another four years…Why can't we bring in another Commissioner or for that matter promote somebody through the ranks. Why not 3 more years so that we can get him off island before he applies for PR.
This is what is wrong with our government, they make the rules and then never abide by them. Why should I as a business owner have to train a Caymanian to replace the expat I have if the very government that puts this in law to me breaks the same law.
Shame shame!!! …send him home
No business owner has trained an Caymanian to replace their most senior management in a decade in anything sophisticated. You delude yourself.
"…they make the rules and then never abide by them…"
The government does not want to eat its own dog food; it tastes awful!
Any new commissioner would take 2 years to settle in…2 years we cannot afford. There are some improvements clearly visible in the system, now it is up to Caymankind to keep the pressure up for more improvements, especially in home invasion and traffic issues
Yes, why is he not going to be 'rolled over' in three years when his seven years will be up..?
Because the governor wants him here as long as he is here…Birds of a fether flock together…
and of course guaranteed PR and will most likely open up his own security company …
He's done such a splendid job, how many unsolved murders have there been since he has been Commissioner, how many unsolved robberies, how many unsolved arrest them, charge them, then oops let them go…yep he's been doing a great job!!!!
Maybe you all should just tell him who committed all the murders since everyone know who they are.
More disappointing news.
Say Wha?
We need to identify a Caymanian for this position.
It is a British territory and the head of police should be British. Independence, like the famous flights leaving daily, is always available.
I don’t mind being British and am very fond of the UK actually – it’s you and your totally made up crap I cannot stand.
Caymanians are British.
Go on then. Who would you suggest?
Kurt Walton would be my first choice,,,
Kurt Walton
yeah right..never happen!!
What happened last time?
If I recall, he was sent to a training course in the UK and didnt make the grade, he still got appointed , and didnt make that grade either!
Please stop with these racist comments. You cannot condemn every Caymanian on the basis of the performance of one.
What next?
Another four years?
Pigs are gonna fly…no pun intended…
Are you joking? While there was violent crime under the former Commissioner Kernhon this Island has seen some of the most violent crimes committed and very few successful prosecution let alone formal charges laid against perpetrators with Mr. BAINES AT THE WHEEL. He has spent mpre money on training and equipment than any of his predecessors and has very little to show for it. We are crime ridden. Officers are being shot at our critically assaulted. To renew him is one thing but to high five and stroke his eggo is another. This is poor and unacceptable. You have unqualified peolple sitting around patting each other on the back and the country is suffering. Please spare us the analogous congratulations to him and themselves. Thecctv is a prime example of his foundation. Someone is happy he is here for sure
Wow!
Crime is up!
Guess it good new for the criminals 😉 lol