MLA aims to bring down CoP
(CNS): West Bay MLA Bernie Bush has stated that unless the commissioner of police is dismissed or resigns from his post immediately he will be bringing a no confidence motion to the Legislative Assembly to get backing from the people’s representatives to oust the top cop from his job. Following the revelations this week that the police boss had presided over the recruitment of an officer from Jamaica facing murder charges the questions still remains over why the man wasn’t dismissed as soon as the charges were filed against him. Tyrone Findlay had only been on payroll for two months and according to the police law still on probation and he remained on pay roll for three years.
For the first two years he was on required leave but the last year he was back on the job in what the commissioner said was as a non-operational roll. An RCIPS spokesperson stated this week that Findlay was working behind a desk at the marine unit. However, other sources have told CNS that he was not working in that unit at any time and others have suggested he was working as an assistant to the commissioner, an allegaitons denied by the police.
Speaking to CNS earlier this week about the recruitment of the officer and the implications that it had Bush said the commissioner had to resign. On Friday, the member of the Cayman Democratic Party announced that he had decided he would bring a motion to the parliament as a reuslt of the representations and the public outcry.
“After extensive consultation with my constituents, some members in the Legislature and many former Caymanian policemen with regards to the lack of crime prevention and law enforcement strategies ….and a catalogue of management errors by the UK recruited Commissioner of Police; it is clear that a wide cross section has lost confidence in the Commissioner of Police,” Bush said. “The COP’s position in this country is no longer tenable. Failing his immediate dismissal or resignation, at the first available opportunity I shall be making a private members motion of no confidence in the Commissioner of Police.”
Bush also called on the wider community and responsible civic groups to support him as he also offered his thanks to those people he said that have called on him and encouraged him to speak out as he said, “This has given me the strength to stand for what is right.”
Bush is one of only three MLAS that answered questions submitted to all MLAs sitting in the Legislative Assembly. However, while Bush, Ezzard Miller and Alva Suckoo remain the only politicians to respond, CNS understands that behind closed doors other MLAs are also calling for the CoP’s resignation.
So far none of the three Coalition for Cayman representatives in the PPM government have spoken out about the situation despite the widespread public concerns about the revelations and CNS understands that the premier, who is still in London and expected back this weekend, remains supportive of the commissioner. The governor has also remained silent regarding the issue with her office telling CNS this week that she hasn’t decided whethershe wants to comment or not.
The recruitment of the officer, who is now serving a twenty five year sentence for the killing of a suspect in Jamaica, has raised a number of questions which remain unanswered. Despite claims by the police commissioner that the investigation surrounding Findlay’s shooting of the victim had been cleared up when he was recruited to the RCIPS the charges were brought just two months later raising questions about how truthful Findlay had been and exactly where the glowing references he allegedly had, came from.
Once the charges were laid, Baines claims he could not lawfully dismiss the officer and this was why he was on required paid leave for more than two years. Eventually because the trail was delayed the CoP said he brought Findlay back to Cayman after a bail variation, earlier this year so he could return to work and allow the public purse the chance to get something back for the salary the man had received for more than two years without working and while living in Jamaica.
However, the police law states quite clearly that constables shall be enlisted in the service for a period of two years on probation and it is not until that period is up that the Commissioner can if he chooses confirm their appointment. Every police officer on joining the service is required to make a truthful declaration about past service in other forces and previous convictions. Given that Findlay remained on probation the commissioner’s claim that he had not choice seems at odds with the law.
Category: Crime
Don't you all know Bernie by now, all talk and no actions. He has always been a good talker, but he never do what he is suppose to do. He knows how to deligate and points fingers too. That's Bernie!! "nuff said!!
Yup – this is the best we can expect from Bernie.
A motion on an issue that gverrnment has no control over.
I'm gonna eat a turtle meat pattie & relax…zzzzzzzzzz
At least its much better then what you can expect from your own leadership. A government that you the people have no control over. Eat your meat pattie and relax. No ones expects any more of you.
Baines only real problem is 'You can't fix stupid' and in this case stupid means every single resident who just turns a blind eye to all the crap that is going down and does nothing about it.
I'm amazed he extended his contract and bet he's already planning to bug out as soon as a good job turns up somewhere else.
I sure hope so. He is useless.
Unlike McKeeva Bush?
Bernie, you should take care to not have your good self publicly coupled with the likes of those who reckon using public funds to gamble with, among other things, is all above board. It isn't and you know it. Don't allow yourself to get sucked down the drain and have your image irreversibly tarnished. Cayman is moving, albeit slowly, away from "madman" politicians – move along with it, okay? Bear in mind we are looking towards single member constituencies, so say what you have to say, absolutely, but say it in calm and considered statesman-like language, please. And just as crucially, do not attach yourself to any "has been – on his way out" individual's coat tails. They've nothing to lose, but you have : your future.
We are on a slippery slope when the people of this community choose to play politics with Bernie rather than focus on the serious issue giving rise to his position on David Baines. Reasonable, law abiding persons cannot defend the gross negligence of David Baines in not only hiring but continuing to employ, at the public's expense for 2 years, a convicted murderer! I doubt seriously Kim Davies or Linda Evans have committed such a gross and utterly indefensible act and yet they are now on required leave pending an investigation at Immigration. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. David Baines is not above the law and his incompetence has now hit its highest note. Not all the people are naive to believe his excuses to date, this is downright incompetence and we need to call it for what it is. This is no time to be political, Bernie is absolutley right on track with this one. Well done and as another writer has said, we need to seriously review the incompetencies of the Judicial and Legal branches next forwhich we are also paying dearly. And not just in money either. Wake up Cayman, we are in a death spiral at the hands of those who have somewhere else to go when we are all dead.
WELL SAID 10:12.
1. David Baines didn't hire anyone – the RCIPS HR department did. 2. No one hired or employed a convicted murderer – they hired someone with excellent references who, it subsequently turned out, was under investigation and was only charged after they had been hired. I quite agree that any leader has to accept responsibility for the things that happen on their watch, but is not the same as either implying that they personally were grossly incompetent, nor does it justify you just making stuff up. By all means have a pop at COP Baines because RCIPS cannot control spiralling crime rates (though the failure of the DPP to put people in jail and keep them there with safe convictions is at least part of the story), by all means have a go at the fact that the recruited individual was kept on pay rather than terminated during his probationary period on the understanding that if he were acquitted he could reapply, but it would be nice if you could do so on a reasoned basis rather than just inventing facts and making it sound like this was a personal decision of the COP. And whilst you are about it, how can you even begin to make a comparison to the two Immigration cases when you dont even know what the allegations are in those cases, let alone the facts?
Ah yes. As soon as an Englishman messes up you rush in to their defence. If the CoP were Caymanian you would be berating their incompetence. How can someone who is under investigation for murder and who proposes to take up a position in law enforcement said to have "excellent references". If he did then clearly something is wrong with the referees.
Mr. Baines is not to blame for cayman crime troubles. The whole damn social breakdown is to blame. children having children leaving grandmothers to raise them. fathers donating towards conception and thereafter non existent because they are spending their time in jail or the bar room. this problem stated back in the 1990's and nobody thought it would come to a head but it sure has. sort out these problems first before blaming Mr. Baines.
You're right, we need to point the finger at the right culprit…..the U.K.
Where I have to agree with post 12:26, we can't blame baines on past crimes, we can blame him for what has happened since he took the post. I 100% agree crime has been rampant and ignored since the 1990's. The higher ups in government kept their head in the sand and stated we didn't have crime, we didn't have gangs. If I remember rightly one leader took it to the LA on the steps to pray for the crime to cease….really???? do you really think that helped. Our crime is so high per population and it isn't getting any better. Maybe the people in Cayman can have something to protect themselves against the thieves, murderers, rapists, then maybe crime will go down, for the police cannot help us and the unfortunte thing is when they do catch someone they get off….Baines isn't doing this country any good since he was in office, so i shall say out with the old in with the new…..but come to think about it…what commissioner has really done any good for this island since the 90's…..??? CASE CLOSED!!!
13:27, you could say exactly the same thing for 90% of our MLA's, but yet they still get re-elected every 4yrs.
Fa'real Bernie, you have a vaild point. Above all, you're Caymanian, this is your home, your country. Keep up the fight and rid of country of such incompetent leadership.. Many of the actions taken by the Commissioner is highly questionable and had he not been protection by his title & nationality, he would have received the fate any Caymanian would have been awarded, ie loss of job and possible charged for reckless indangerment of life.
Keep up the fight, all may not agree but many will.
Judging from the urgency and pressing nature of this topic, the missing billion of government funds has been located, the banks that have pulled out are on their way back and rollover exodus is all sorted?
Or is it the chance to kick an expat off just too appealing?
I would urge people to think more, this may come back to bite everyone.
Rather than being cynically stupid focus on the continued crime and how it willnaffectvallmof us if it does not stop 09:12. The COP has with this issue clearly has lost the respect of the public, of his officers and the Queen., if not her representative.
Quite frankly 09:12, your comments show the sad creature that you are. It is obvious that your house or any of your family have not been robbed for you will either change your tune or pick up YA bundle and leave and go don't stay here no more. The public is not confident of the RCIP Management and its Leader, and he has lost the respect of his officers ; so as the song goes you can tell your friends there with you He Has To Go…
Didn't see this yet on CNS"Ezzard Miller wants all businesses with a Business Staffing Plan to make it public" he goes onto say anyone from the public can walk into one's office during working hours and ask to see this? Are you out of your mind? Don't you think this will disrupt day to day business. I hope that someone has the sense and NOT pass this through…I think Ezzaard you have greater problems to worry about eg., killer police officer, rapist prison guard…to name tow!!!!!
Sorry CNS but had to post this somewhere
Surely this appointment is a matter for the UK and the views of a few rabble rousing local politicians playing to the crowds are an irrelevancy?
This matter has been open for all to see for a long time and the great UK has done nothing to date to fix it. So these "rabble rousing local politicians' are trying to force the issue. But in the end he has the UK's support so dont expect too much.
… and that is why your rabble rousing is irrelevant
Really Bernie? Really? Out of the multitude of issues currently facing our nation this is what you are choosing to focus on. Or is this the one your puppet master is telling you to address. Why don't you address corruption or overspending, something your master is very familiar with and don't try to cite incompetence as a reason for removal from office otherwise you may be back in the job market next.
The increasing crime is one of the most crtical matters facing this country right now. The contention is that Baines is a major reason why the police are not able to effectively do their job. So Bernie good job in that regard.
PS will that mean we will be able to cut some of the police officers.
If you can't see that this is just a badly disguised attempt by the West Bay ex LOGB to get some revenge then you might need a new pair of glasses. The Chief of Police, Governor, Premier all have a part to play in effective management of the country but crime and criminals are all part of much closer to home issue that has little to do with the guys at the top. A crime freesociety is down to having a close knit society that is willing to stand up and do the right thing every time no matter how hard the choice, we are the police, or at least meant to be,
And Mr B. Bush cannot see that some of his West Bay associates have a lot more to do with rising crime – whether committing it or precipitating the number amongst us that are happy to commit it – than the failure of the COP to stop it? You are a God fearing man, Mr Bush – read Matthew 7.3
Bernie's intended petition is hopefully only the first step in the process of forcing Government's accountability and action in the matter of RCIPS' and Baines lack of performance. Hopefully the next step will be a march. This matter is not simply about the gross error and failures in hiring a murderer but it displays the public's frustration of years of police ineptness and arrogance.
This is not unlike the swell of protest sweeping across the US against dissatisfaction with policing! People are simply fed up!
Brothers. The first step has been taken, now it can only gather momentum once it has been put before an emergency committee meeting and a majority vote has been cast of imminent action.
Only then, will we put the motion be put forward that the entire Imperial apparatus is dismantled before sunset.
Romanes eunt domus!
Summon the invisible bodyguards and ensure we have plenty of crockery with which to pay them. Now let us fly to a casino to plan for independence.
The standard of Latin in Cayman is truly shocking – what are they doing at JGHS, and why hasn't Minister Rivers done something about it – "Romani ite domum", please, or I suppose in this case "expatrii ite domum".
And don't even get me started on the Greek.
Somehow I don't think this fella went to JGHS or any high school on this island for that matter.
No pemittar il porta frappra posteriara!
Yeah! E pluribus unum. Except for those new people over there… and those "paper" people over the other way … and anyone else we might want to deport. Aside from those folks, e pluribus unum all the way. Latin mea clunibus…
To Sat 07:51, your closing statement is vile and hateful. Your stereotypical comment indicates that you are the bigot. If you've been following posts and talk shows, many Caymanians have been calling for accountability in the public service, including for the mismanagement (or otherwise) of the $1 billion identified over the years. Clearly you are ignorant or just a plain hatemonger.
If you are amongst us, benefiting from Cayman, may I suggest you get your xenophobic ass off our island since we are so distasteful. Leave space for others who assimilate and live amongst us. If you live overseas and are commenting from that perspective, that highlights your intent to be hateful just for the sake. I bet you're a sad person.
This government minus Suckoo are cowards pretending to be leaders
Suckoo has accomplished one thing very well. Talking alot about Caymanian oriented entitlements and undoubtedly securing many votes out of the same old rethoric..
However accomplishment toward:
Creating real opportunities/demand for Caymanians? Nope
Creating economical growth for the country? Nope
Growing the educational capacity in Cayman? Nope
Growing the private sector to create more jobs? Nope
it still the same old tired rhethoric implied rhethorics that expats are taking Caymanian jobs, limit work permits and tighten immigration, and gosh dolly, he's gonna do smothing about it!
All of which will do excatly as it has been verifyiably demonstrated time and time again, result in LOOSES OF JOBS for Caymanians when you decrease the expat populations/work permits.
But see, this doesn't sound good to a politician because its a hard sell. Its not easy to sell that it isn't expats taking jobs (because it makes NO economical sense to a business to pay for a work permit when you have supposedly competent labor on island). It's not easy to sell a voter to get off his or her ass, and compete in the labor market. This is not to diss Caymananians in anyway rather the politician that promotes entitlements which end up destroying the very people that are supposedly to be helped., The majority of Caymanians are hard workers and HAVE jobs… unfortunately it just happens there are TOO MANY that are not, and too ready to suck up some patronizing politician at every election and ruining it for the rest, work wise and reputation wise. But it takes balls to say something like that to voters which none of them have.
It's much easier to tell voters, see? this expat driving the SUV, he/she took your job! Vote for me and I'll make sure none of them will take your job and your chidldren's jobs!. You're ENTITLED to that job. Those businesses that bring jobs here from abroad OWE you that Job.
Yes… much easier sell to many people. And again, this isn't a diss on Caymanians, this works all over the world. It worked in Spain, in Greece, in France, the in the UK and Unites States etc… and every where you go for those countries that promote this entitlement BS, those same people are broke, and those same entitle people are now eeking their way with mediocracy and government crumbs, and in many cases not even that.
So who can beat Santa Clause at election? No one.. So I agree, he's doing a great Job, and the rest of them too.
Before you start to clean the UKs house you should at least start to clean your own. At least a little.
Ummm…this is doing just that.
Exactly 14:48 thank you.
And yet all those Caymanian Managers who have been responsible for Billion dollar losses, millions of dollars in damage to the coral, epic mismanagment of funds and resources, government credit card abuses, etc., etc., etc., don't even get a spanking. Its OK to be iresponsible, incompetent, and unreliable if your Caymanian but expats are out the door if they piss off the wrong person. We get it. By culture Caymanians are the worlds biggest bigots.
I guess we learnt from the best!
Who are you and where are you living. I am not Caymanian and I have a far different view of caymanians than you. The average Caymanian is honorable, good and just want the best for their friends and family, unfortunately there are a few greedy corrupt people, unfortunately some of them are impositions of great power. However, It is obvious from your post that wherever you are from all the people are perfect, not one liar or corrupt one. So in using restraint from swearing, please go back there and stop using all your energy hating.
Thank you 6:47 for being honest and humble. God bless you.
You're a truly ignorant person.
Well, to be honest the Islands are called Cayman Islands, right? not Expats Islands, so……. yep, is our house, for better or worst is ours and the least you can do as an owner is have the right to f… it up or do it right….
If its your culture to f…it up then it explains everything.
Mr Bush's time and effort would better serve Cayman if he brought a motion to the house to institute new and better government employee procurement processes…
Petty nationalistic rabble rousing from a puppet of Gambler Bush and his Party Formerly Known As The UDP.
Bernie. You are a good guy despite the company you keep. Watch you don’t be seen as Mac’s bag man. You are better than that.
Does the bag man get to carry the casino chips?
Really? Is Bernie better? I'm tired of the unprofessional jokes, calling women sweetie, and acting as if people can take a grin to the bank or a laugh to get laws enforced.
Come on West Bay, why oh why??? you have uneducated that can only be puppets and educated that can only read scripts and repeat her job title. WEST BAYERS Please stop this shite!!
Given a choice between Bernie Bush and Baines I'll take Baines any day. This is turning into a re-run of the Derek Haines 'kangaroo court' that deprived RCIPS of one of their most important assets at the whim of a small group of MLAs and their friends. If you want mob rule follow Bernie because that's wherethis is leading.
You can be damned sure that if Derek Haines was removed by Caymanians, they were bloody corrupt and in cahoots with a bloody corrupt UK.
No, those involved were in cahoots with the corrupt Caymanians who fund their election campaigns and under instructions from them to protect their illegal business interests.
Would be good if he expended some of his energies on bringing down corrupt politicians.
Hmmm, good luck! I don't dont think people here resign for any reason. I've not seen it in the 15 y are I've been here.
So he calls for the resignation of Mr Baines, but not of the politicians and civil servants who literally have lost billions. Corruption is ok but hiring someone with "perfect" references is not. I almost wish a Caymanian was elevated to this responsible position so that I could watxh from the sidelines the circus that would ensue. Every problem this island has with crime will not magically disappear just because one of your own is heading it up. Indeed you only have to look at who is in the top positions of government and the Civil Service to know that.
I wonder if BB would have the 'purity of heart' to file such a motion on his own puppeteer?
I am sure Mr. Baines is a decent, well-meaning bloke, but the stench goes far higher than him. We have a Chief Justice, a DPP and an Attorney General who all need to follow.
While I am on the subject of uselessness in high places, can ANYONE tell me what our Governor has done?
The Caymanian people have been hoodwinked and it's about time they took their country back.They must be sick to death of educated people telling them what to do in the ONLY place they call home.
Brethren, the time for independance is upon us. It is about time we take our country back and expell all this foreign influence and place Cayman back in our rightful place as the shining jewel in the Caribbean crown!
Enough is enough!
I am appalled that the Chief Justice is included in this list! This country has one of the hardest working , most deeply committed to the tenets of independence of the judiciary and the dispensing of Justice according to law that these islands will ever see.
it is so easy to target people when operating from a position of ignorance.
These people are giving, at great personal costs, their lives to public service rather than making the millions they could. This should give us pause to examine the evidence before we utter such unsupported words.
Because the poster cares not a whit about the actual work, commitment or attitude of the Chief Justice – they cannot see past his nationality, in just the same way that a KKK member wouldn't see past the colour of the skin. Sad.
Bernie is Mac (lite) and so plays well in West Bay. He is yet another in the line of Caymanians who have not been able to do well in the public or private sector but then become big shots when they are elected as MLAs. I would list names going back 30 years but I suspect CNS would not publish this post.
Alden still supports the CoP, now that's a shocker!!
WELL DONE BERNIE IT IS TIME SOMEONE STAND UP.
come on politicians stand and be accounted this is the security of our Islands that are being played with. Sack the hell out of Baines.
Another Mckeeva Bush in the making. Very scary
We need to get to the bottom this of this.