Cops can’t address bribery without evidence
CNS): Although the Election Office has received complaints alleging that some candidates are offering bribes for votes, officials say that the complainants are refusing to cooperate with the police, making it very difficult for either the office or the police to do anything it without evidence. The office has also raised concerns about the increasing vandalism of candidates’ posters and other signs and is warning anyone who gets caught that they will be prosecuted. Meanwhile, with just three weeks until the General Election, the office is about to begin mobile voting and urged residents in Little Cayman, in particular, to apply for the mobile vote as there will be no polling stations on that island on Election Day.
Election officials confirmed Wednesday that there have been complaints of some candidates providing house repairs and promises of future favours to electors in the districts in which they are running for office. However, they said the office could not act on complaints alone and unless the person complaining is willing to come forward and provide a written statement, without evidence of the complaint no action can be taken against the alleged perpetrators of the bribery.
“While the police are readyand willing to deal with such matters, it is a waste of their time and that of the Elections Office to have complaints being made and the persons complaining then refusing to co-operate,” the officials stated.
In the wake of several attacks on PPM posters and other candidates' signs, the office is also concerned about what it described as “irresponsible behaviour”, which they said “cannot be tolerated” in free and fair elections. The officials said that everyone in the community needed to participate in a positive way when it comes to the campaign but those who commit such “acts of vandalism should be ashamed of themselves”, and if they are caught they will be prosecuted.
As polling day approaches, the office will soon start its mobile voting exercise and it is urging all Little Cayman electors to apply to vote by mobile poll if they wish to vote in the upcoming General Elections. Those who want to vote at the polls on Election Day will have to attend the polling stations situated at the West End Primary School on Cayman Brac as there will be no polling station on LC on 22 May.
The mobile polling station will be situated at the Public Works compound and will be open from 9:00am until 12:00 noon on Friday 10 May. Application forms (Form C) are available at the District Officer’s office in Blossom Village or can be downloaded from the website www.electionsoffice.ky.
Once completed they can be delivered to the District Officer or forwarded directly to the Registering Officer on Cayman Brac, Ellen Lazzari, at least one day before the mobile poll takes place.
Category: Politics
This is nothing new, and sadly nothing will change until we as a people stop accepting this dishonest status quo, where bribes, nepotism and name calling come before our children's future. It is no different from the other abuses of position, or lack of honor and honesty foisted upon decent citizens by less than decent individuals.
If a few people wore wires there would likely be lots of evidence.
There is some evidence in the story about the Airport. Is not a promise to give 10,000,000 to 1600 people in six months to cut bush enough?
That’s SO Cayman!
“So-and-so is corrupt. Let me tell you all kinds of stories about him/her.
Wait, you want what? For me to provide evidence and talk to the police?! Why?! No way! I just want to be able to tell my stories and expect you to do something about it and scream and shout if you don’t”.
I think those candidates should be named and shamed. They’re not fit to hold office.
Police's job is too investigate right? Especially where there is a lot of smoke, a lot of clues..hell some bloggers on here have almost named names…so RCIPs, in the public interest, stop squabbling internally and get on with your job.
Isnt Politicians promising to increase the seamans grant bribery?
What the Police and Elections Officials say here may be true….to a degree.
What about "undercover" operations?….Police do it for ganja all the time!
I believe I have some bribery to report.
I believe some politicians may have given Cayman status to some persons under very questionable circumstances, in breach of the law and in expectation of political support.
I believe politicians have interefered in relation to the prosecution of persons stealing pensions from their employees.
I believe our funds have been used to pave private driveways.
I believe our politicians routinely and illegally abuse their office to ” forgive debts” owed to us.
The written statement you require is recorded in the hansard, auditor general’s reports, and in the newspapers. Can you bastards even read?
Oh sorry, the reports you have do not have an original signature? Oh, it’s OK then.
My thoughts and action would be – Anyone in a position to make a complaint on corruption of candidates and cannot back it up by a statement should be immediately locked down for wasting The Election Office and Police Officers time, yet they are looking for results by not completing the process.
In 2009 the Elections Office did nothing about the blatant passing out of cards to voters on election day, so do you expect those same old, same old vampires to see vote buying from a different perspective now or later????
Wake up from that deep sleep!
Bullshit! Investigate and prosecute. You think we are morons? You give our written statements to the persons complained against because of your shallow and simplistic (and false) beliefs as to the Law. You don’t require my written statement before you take action if I call to say I see a guy with a gun – or drugs on the beach. Why some crimes but not others?
Physical evidence (drugs on the beach) vs circumstantial evidence (there was drugs on the beach last week and it got picked up by Bob) – IANAL (or a police officer)
Wow. Crazy stupid.