Moxam: crime policy unclear
(CNS): With the police receiving reports of break-ins and burglaries almost on a nightly basis in the capital, the president of the Chamber of Commerce said that Cayman can’t just accept crime as the “new normal” or the “price of success”. But with what Johann Moxam called an unclear crime prevention policy being pursued by the authorities, more has to be done to tackle the growing problem. The Chamber has written to the National Security Council asking for a meeting as he says the membership is falling victim to criminal acts involving firearms, damage to property, thefts and burglaries, which is undermining business.
"The responsibilities of the National Security Council (NSC) are outlined under section 58 of the Cayman Islands Constitution. The NSC is supposed to receive regular briefings from the Commissioner of Police on matters of internal security, including the police force,” Moxam stated.
However, it is not clear exactly what the NSC has been doing in recent years. Since the publication of the Crime Reduction Strategy some three years ago, prepared by the Council to set out a long term plan to tackle the country’s growing crime issues, there has been a surge in property related crime.
While serious gang violence may have declined, thefts, burglaries, break-ins and robberies are still plaguing the residential as well as business communities. Although the strategy was about long term issues, it is not clear if government policy is in-line with the recommendations in the report. At the time of its publication the then governor, Duncan Taylor, had pointed to a new oversight post or ‘crime tsar’ to coordinate the plan and ensure accountability.
No such person has been appointed three years on but officials have stated that Robert Lewis, Director of the Policy Coordination Unit in the Cabinet Office, has responsibility for the strategy. (CNS has contacted the Home Affairs Ministry and the Governor's Office regarding the oversight of the strategy.)
Moxam said the police commissioner is responsible for informing the premier of any significant security developments but he is concerned that he may not be reporting enough to the victims and potential victims. Accepting that there had been a number of public meetings with the police in the districts, he said the bigger picture needed more clarity.
“The overall crime prevention policy that is being pursued remains unclear to the Chamber Council and the membership,” he said. “There appears to be a general acceptance by some that this level of crime is the 'new normal' and as a country it appears that that we are becoming desensitized to the reported increase in crime. This is a serious concern to our members, citizens, residents and must now become be a priority for the government.
"Although, many businesses and residents have invested thousands of dollars in expensive and complex security systems more must to done by the authorities to aggressively deter criminal activity and address the root causes of crime.”
He warned that Cayman should not accept the attitudes and excuses. “As a country we must not become so desensitized that we come to view this threat to our quality of life merely as a nuisance or the 'price of success'.”
While Moxam urged people to assist the authorities, he said that the Chamber membership still want to see a more proactive approach taken immediately to prevent a further escalation in crime.
Having written to the Security Council to request a meeting to find out what is being done and what more should be done in terms of policy, the president also stated that meetings were being organised between the membership and RCIPS officers for a more practical assistance.
But with millions having been invested already by the business community in crime prevention, there are concerns about how much more the commercial sector must invest to put an end to the economically damaging but escalating property crime.
See Chamber letter below.
Category: Crime
Can part of the policy be to allow new home complexes to be built that offer better security and protection from the criminal mob? I really don't care if a bunch of thugs want to shoot each other where they hang out. I only care if they come near my home or my family. Walls, wire, gates and guards. That is what is needed.
Crime affects everybody and everybody is responsible for crime when, they see things and don't inform the police, when as parents we don't train our children right, when as employers we don't employ the unemployed, and when we don't holler long enough and hard enough to have competent policing on these shores. So all a we Ina dis ting together.
The policy is we will create a sensible and effective strategy to stop burglaries, drunk, speedsters, blue and white collar thiefing endlesdrug abuse and a myriad of things that cause crime. Dat simple e, but the blasted policy alone is no good if nobody knows how to proceed to implement the policy. How many times do we have to be talking about policy and not process of policing , that needs a policy, how many times do we say that we need police on the beat, that needs a policy, how many times do we have to cuss and carry on before, the Government, the Police and Her Excellency get off their derrière and take effective action. golly wish if we the people could immediately cut their pay we would see speedy results, ya would see a big hustle to get it right. Until!!!.
Good job Mr. Moxam now go after those deadbeat Chamber members who steal their employees pension money.
And Baines got an medal for what???
The issue of crime has nothing to do with gangs , except that by definition, gangs are a group of people in similar criminal behavior. How about unemployability? How about the people of Cayman, take their heads out of the sand and admit that a percentage of our people are unemployable, another percentage is employable but the same businesses will not hire them, the Dept of Children does not have a skills training program for those on welfare, and the list goes on. Why we always want to take the easy route out – gangs commit the crime, foreign nationals take our jobs. And if so, ask the question – Why?
The gangs are supposedly in Prison, despite them continuing to offend out here, and the "real" white collar criminals are those that are depriving our people of work are probably now enjoying a good dinner, in a nice house, with lights and water, and some expensive beverages. The politicians are meeting to decide what story line, what new Law to pass, where else they can find some money to throw at a pipe dream so we blame the gangs and the foreign nationals.
Caymanians read. Take a sociology and economics class. Read some history of other countries and start suggesting and demanding meaningful solutions. Stop the hatred and stupidity.
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….and there are gangs!
Of course the crime policy is not clear. If it was, government would not be permitted to use government issued credit cards for personal use. When you take something without consent from the owner ie public funds belonging to the people it is stealing. But it is nullified if you pay it back. However, if you steal from a bank you go to prison and still pay it back.
True 17:19 but what about the employers that deduct their employees pension monies don’t pay it in and only get fined $350.00 now that is highway robbery where is the Chamber on that I wonder.
What if the employer did not deduct it? I see a case in court now where pensions was not deducted and was only one month in question. So why waste the courts time. The company been out of business since 2010.
There ought to be a law against stupid commentary in the media. Your statement is not only wrong, it makes no sense.
Wrong: Theft is taking property with intent to deny the owner of it. So if you took something with the intention to return it, it is not theft. If you took it believing you had permission, it is not theft. If it was the custom to take it and then return it, it is not theft.
Makes no sense: Government travel could not work with such black and white positions because the reasons and circumstances are to varied and complex. In fact, more people use their own credit cards to purchase airline tickets, hotel rooms and other services for government related travel thant the other way around. Only a select few have government credit cards. On many occasions government does not pay back the money, because it is not always possible to prove spending, especially if you failed to get receipts.
No one should be abusing government credit cards, and it is best practice not to use them for personal business. However, inventing the rules after the fact to make what was estalbished and common practice a crime is even more abusive.
Perhaps you should look up the meaning of theft. I have a corporate card and the policy is very clear in that I am not permitted to use it for personal purchases. Had it for twenty years and it has never been a problem.
By your definition if I came by your house and took your car that you had left the keys in (but with the intention of returning it to you a month later) that is not theft?
Nowhere in my post do I say that paying for travel and business related expenses is theft. It is theft when public funds have been used without the publics approval for personal purchases. The absence of a policy promotes this and more disturbing is that the moral fibre of the politicians feeding at the trough of public funds is both missing and disgusting.
Oh and if there was a law against posting 'stupid comments' as you suggest it would not be a democracy. Everyone is permitted a viewpoint, just because it does not align with your thoughts does not make it stupid.
You're absolutely wrong. Taking or helping one's self to something without permission or consent of owner is theft regardless of your intention. People that get caught in violation almost always back-peddle when exposed in the wrong.
I'd say that this crime increase is due to the massive disparity in the distribution of wealth in Caymans population; Some earning over $800 an hour others only $5.
How could crime not increase with disparity such as this? The system is designed to enrich the rich and enslave the poor
The few who understand the system will either be so interested in its profits or be so dependent upon its favours that there will be no opposition from that class, while on the other hand, the great body of people, mentally incapable of comprehending the tremendous advantage that capital derives from the system, will bear its burdens without complaint, and perhaps without even suspecting that the system is inimical to their interests" – Rothschild Brothers 1863
Well said Maximus, thanks for the quote, now Chamber please address that and while you sort out the crime issue please do the same about the minimum wage and stealing employers that seal their employees pension and only get charged a little over $300 in fines.
You cannot discuss crime and ignore alcohol and especially drug use.
Blame the society at large if it makes you feel better but look at the family life of the worst of e criminal population and you will find violence, abuse, addiction and neglect.
Children having children; go to Northward on visiting day and see the young children there visiting "Dad" and it will break your heart.
The Cayman societal model is to "shun" a problem person and that may have worked 100 years ago but today as we can see it is a failure.
Thank goodness we have SOME on here who know what is going on.
Maximus: VERY intelligent comment, history tells us all we need to know, thank you for posting.
The Constitution, the Bail Law, and the Human Rights Law (which could be interpreted as the "criminal rights law," along with the failure of society to instill good values in its children are all part and parcel of the growth of crime in these islands. Victims have no rights, because when someone steals from you, they don't have to pay it back; when someone kills you, they only serve 20 years and not life imprisonment; when someone assaults you, their ass isn't flogged in public. It's time to train our young ones good values and principles and apply some real hard asspunishment to today's criminals. Being soft doesn't work; rehab doesn't work.
15:48 I agree with you about the real hard punishment – if the criminals know that they will get off easy they will continue and others will follow u then again we have this thing called human rights law.
On another note, the so called gang in Birch Tree Hill needs to turn their lives around instead of doing stupid, worthless things – who made them God? It's as if they don't have any brain in their heads. It is so disgusting. I just hope that if there is a next time of some incident that I am a witness to it and for sure I WILL turn them in!! So sick to my stomach with this crap.
LET ME OFFER A SOLUTION TO THE CRIME PROBLEM IN CAYMAN
It is called get rid of BAINES and get someone who will tackle crime and know how to deal with crime and reinstate the traffic department. Most criminals drive off in cars and experience traffic officers who detect something being wrong will peruse these villans and capture. Introduce more foot patrol in a covert manner. Not like Baines answer “let’s put every officer in uniform. Criminals never act when Police is Overt
Let’s get on with my suggestions.
Cayman Governments leadership policy on crime is as clear as glass. Let us steal from the people and we let you steal from the people. Is this not true? Can you still not see it? When has asking a thief to stop stealing ever worked? Why do so many here accept the Pirate way of life and justice as the normal? Time to try something else.
If there is no policy how can there be a discussion on its clarity.
When you have a rat invading your house, what do you do? Set a trap! Well, it is time for someone to be caught in the trap. Make sure when you set it, it works.
Well done Johan keep up the pressure.
Please keep up the pressure with NWDA. Hungry men steal. You know first hand that this department is NOT placing qualified Caymanians and somehting smells to high heaven with their management??
Qualified to steal is not the same as qualified to work in most countries.
10:56.Did you think that one up ,all by yourself? Well ,here's your sign.
Prolly have a better chance of getting hired if the employer wasn't afraid being stole from
The Chamber President is more active in advocating for Cayman than your politicians who appear asleep at the wheel
There are politicians who understand what is happening and try to offer suggestions/solutions but the old guard do not want to hear what they have to say and tries to shut them up. Once we get rid of the" old guards" the others can and will make a difference.
09:56.If you truly believe what you have written,you will believe anything.What is important is not the age of individuals but the quality of what they have to offer.
Except for the new supposed indepemdents who are C4C by any other name.
Isn't he a C4C 2017 hopeful?
Guess he's trying to get the celebrity status needed for Caymanian voters but with OMOV which area in GT or BT could he win?
You want to tackle crime? Then implement minimum wage, a moratorium on unskilled workers clean up civl servants of same expat contract workers dominating legal departments/RCIPS…yup didn't thonk you'd want to speak about the real elephant in the room that you and your business members are perpetuating to beging with.
Thank you Mr. Moxam for addressing our concerns. This is the type of leadership Cayman needs instead of ignoring the matter.
Moxam?? I thought the Chamber is saying that the crime policy is unclear?
It is obvious the Lodge desires a permiable border, and we can only ask why, already half-knowing the answer. Clearly, we don't know what is coming or going from our waters and there is no operational interception mechanism – be it Cuban migrants or fugatives, gangsters, drugs and guns. It seems only by tip or blind luck that anything gets intercepted. Cayman should sell the chopper and buy one or two unarmed high-altitude fixed-wing drones with thermal imaging. Train up 6 Caymanian pilots and work 3/24hr shifts of knowing what's actually going on. Not all those boats out there at night are looking for swordfish.
Agree! The lodge brothers are intermingled with money flowing through our borders. The politicians want a poor and unedcuated population as it is a sure way to secure votes.
Poor voters of Cayman, we are asleep. Thank goodness for Mr Moxam- a voice of reason in this wild island.
10:08.But Mr Moxam as President of the Chamber of Commerce represents the money people you are talking about.Therefore he is not representing the "poor and unedcuated population".
The Police know who the district gang leaders andcrime bosses are, but I can't recall the last time in the last 10 years that any of these people were challenged or arrested. What is the deal?
Try voting for a person who has YOUR best interest at heart instead of his criminal friends next time.
I have gone over the list of elected officials, and unfortunately I haven't found ANY that have my best interest at heart. It seems they are only interested in themselves.
A quote from Mark Faber : "In democracy you have incompetent people at the top." He is correct.
In other forms of government you also often(usually?) end up with the incompetent on top, because hunger for power doesn't seem to require competence. In democracy you just get to choose your incompetent leader for yourself, so, um, yay?
Look at the Constitution and the bail law and you will understand why the police hasn't arrested them. Unfortunately, people blame the police for crimes, but even when they lock them up, if the courts don't let them out, Northward does and if Northward doesn't, the Governor does. How can you win?
It is too late.
We are going towards gang controlled neighbourhoods like in the US.
The police is only focussed on traffic violations.
And the politicians are filling their pockets.
Not this current government – maybe the 1.5 before!
There are way too many people talking on phones while driving for that to be true.
But in terms of quality for money. For the police we are not getting it.
and it is impacting other sections of Government.
We want to downsize Government but we have absolutely no say on how many new police officer the Governor wants.
Meanwhile other organizations in Government are understaffed.
Get all the gangs together and let them finalize their acts. That way we won't have to deal with them in a longtime.
Arm Yourselvs! The Police cannot and will not protect you. At the very best they are 15 minutes away at any given time. Don't be afraid to disobey "Man's Law". Live by God's Law and protect your family. It is better to go to court for protecting your family, than to go to acemetary because you protected some government rules. Please Wake Up And Take This Country Back!
I agree with your sentiment. Anyone who enters your property without your consent/invitation is yours. Whatever happens to him, is what he was seeking. Make sure you do a good job.