Governor Jack, we need to know what’s going on.
Why on earth was a replacement interim police commissioner brought to the Cayman Islands only to learn that he wasn’t up for the job?
This county has already seen two police commissioners come and go and now a third has quietly exited Grand Cayman.
Why did we pay for an extended holiday for someone who, after talking things through with the powers that be, realised he didn’t want the job?
In yet another vaguely worded press release Governor Stuart Jack sent this message to the people of the Cayman Islands last week: ‘There was an aspect of the job which was not acceptable to Mr. Hipgrave…unfortunately after further discussion this could not be resolved.’
We have to wonder what that ‘aspect’ was.
Was it the fact that Mr. Hipgrave realised he was walking into a hornet’s nest where three police commanders – including former Commissioner Stuart Kernohan, Deputy Commissioner Rudy Dixon and Chief Superintendent John Jones – were removed from office in March?
Or was it the fact that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is under an ongoing investigation by a team from the UK Metropolitan Police Service in London?
Or was it merely the fact the Mr. Hipgrave came from a police force and island much smaller than the Cayman Islands?
We have to wonder, also, just who was doing the homework here.
Was Mr. Hipgrave sold a bill of goods; something that sounded too good to be true?
And we also have to wonder on what information Governor Stuart Jack is acting on.
The events this past year revolving around the police service would lead one to believe that the Governor may not be getting the right information before taking action in police matters.
We certainly hope that is the case.
Acting Commissioner David George is expected to leave the Cayman Islands at the end of this month. He made his intentions known in August and has no plans to change them.
We don’t blame him.
Governor Jack said last week that an immediate search has started for a new commissioner.
May we suggest that he look at the capable former police officers on our own shores before reaching out again to the UK?
It’s time for the police debacle to be cleared up.
At the end of the day Governor Jack works for us, the people of the Cayman Islands. While he is here at the wishes of the Queen, we are the ones who pay his salary and office perks.
It is time that our sullied reputation – and that of the men who have been put on leave and not charged for any criminal wrongdoing – be restored.
It is in Governor Jack’s remit to do this.
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