Premier calls emergency NSC meeting
(CNS): In the wake of a prison break-out by three inmates from HMP Northward Wednesday night, all of whom are serving time for violent offences, including one convicted murderer, the premier called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday afternoon. Although the issue of national security is still primarily in the hands of the governor, the creation of the Home Affairs Ministry has handed the administrative element of the prison to elected officials and the remit is currently in the premier’s portfolio. Alden McLaughlin said that he was informed last night of the prison break and during today’s meeting he and other ministers, as well as Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush, were given an opportunity to query the circumstances and facts surrounding the escape and subsequent efforts to locate the men.
“The escape is being treated with the utmost seriousness and all available resources, including the K-9 Unit, the Police Helicopter, the Uniformed Support Group and the Marine Unit, have been deployed to locate and capture these escaped inmates,” McLaughlin said in a statement released to the media on Thursday afternoon.
At a 2pm emergency meeting of the National Security Council members were given a full briefing by the Chief Officer for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Eric Bush, Commissioner of Police David Baines and Director of Prisons Neil Lavis. Also in attendance were the opposition leader, as well as Ministers Osbourne Bodden and Tara Rivers, the premier said.
“I encourage all members of our society to be aware of this situation and remain safe. Please do not attempt to apprehend any of these men on your own. If you have information on the whereabouts of these prisoners, I implore you to call 911 or the nearest police station,” he said. “I want to thank the men and women in our Uniformed Services for their hard work and dedication in keeping our community safe,” the premier added.
The public can call George Town Police Station: 949-4222, Bodden Town Police Station: 947-2240 and West Bay Police Station: 949-3999.
See premier's statement on YouTube here
Category: Crime
National security Council meeting you all better try and deal with this nasty little cabal thats running this little place and the prison and a certain Likkle meeting which took place at the bedside of a certain retired official who left here on a medical emergency. Yes Cayman the prison situation ain't about three escape prisoners its about control and corruption by some at the very top! Unfortunately absolutely nothing will be done by this so called NSC run effectively by the inept and the incompetent and staffed unfortunately by the indifferent who simply do'nt have a clue or even care.
From days of old, prison was a means of punishment; they came up with it after flogging was outlawed. However, time has changed and we are still antiquated. It's timefor the penal system to be evaluated and assessed with some common sense. Here's what I suggest:
Look at each offence and come up with a list of solutions that would be most appropriate and give options for sentencing. For example, if someone commits the offence of theft, the most appropriate solution/sentence is to have them repay the owner; for drug use, the most appropriate sentence is counselling; save prison sentences for those who commit an act of violence against someone else with murder attracting absolute life in prison – no parole, because they have deprived someone else of their right to life.
Please. Here we go again. More reviews and more of the same BS. A small fortune is being spent looking for these three. This is the same old BS. Law and Order within these shores is at a tilting point. Child molesters are set free with less time than a drug user, and prisoners are allowed so much unsupervised time that they can escape. We have spent a fortune on fences and cameras. Are the camera broke. Who is watching them????? Who is watching the inmates? NOBODY otherwise they would be in prison now.
I believe Steve knows he is innocent and the general public knows that too. Perception is that the prison security knows he saw what happened in the prison, he cannot talk and say what he saw outside his cell, because the same ones that committed the murder in prison would kill him too, so they probably send him out now and then on a vacation. I say to the Governor, reopen the case of Steve Manderson, use DNA and I believe he will be proven innocent. I believe he is a harmless person to the general public. He might be many things, but I don't think he is a murderer. They might just steal some food and clothes to survive, but they won't harm or kill anyone, especially Steve.
I agree that Steve Mandersons case needs to be reopened as from day one the marl road had it to say that Steve is innocent. Its tuff being poor, if he had a come from a different family with money he might not have had to be a prison escapee. It must be very tuff having to pay the price for someone else if that is really so. Politicians, Caymanians and whoever the powers to be please look into this matter. I am no relative and have never even spoken to this young man in my life but I am a mother too and I would not like for my child to have to pay for something that they did not do.
Steve won't hurt. anyone…we all. Know this. by now.
Typing by someone not used to it……Could this be Steve or friend or family…..
Yes and everyone in prison is innocent.
Let's move on please.
McKeeva obviously needs to know the circumstances and how one breaks out the slammer so he can utilize the knowledge in future.
Perhaps we should hire another 100 police officers, preferably those that can read. Then we will have 1 officer per 100 capita. Years ago, we used to boast the most fax machines per capita, Now we can switch out the dumb fax machines for police officers. This is a shocking indictment on Baines and the rest of his crew. You've had years to sort this out, but now the ones that criticize are the terrorists.
I'm no David Baines fan, but how is this his fault? Does the COP have the prison under his remit?
Er..have the police caught them yet? No.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 08/16/2013 – 13:10. Er…what?What's up with the use of Er…?
A confused and incorrect message 19.35. Baines is not running the prison. Baines is now looking for the escapees. I was walking around snug harbour last night, and just in that tiny neighbourhood you come to realise that there are hundreds of places they could be hiding and you would never know. You would be better advised to be a good citizen and keep your eyes open.
Once again we are being reactive and the public being last to be told of the situation! So sad cause a lot of civilians could have been harmed or dead! Well done premier!
oh just stop being so ignorant. You're lucky he or any mla is on the news telling people that they are trying to sort this. Whose job do you think this suppose to be? Not the commissioner of Police.
You people want to know whats going on, then when you are told, you people are ungrateful.
In anycase, what is the big deal on being reactive to a prison break? Its a damn jail, built to hold people in. YOU cant do or fix anything until they break out dumbars. What, the ppm have a fortune teller on staff awa?
Man you people just talk to just hear youselves.