Mr. Taylor and Mr. Baines were asked by legislators’ to attend an in-person meeting Friday at the Legislative Assembly building.
Describing unrepentant perpetrators as “young fops”, Mr. Bush said it is imperative to get the serious crime unit in operation immediately.
“This group will kick them where it hurts. They will let them know that they can’t move about this country with impunity,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition Alden McLaughlin said he was pleased with Mr. Bush’s motion, which he said mirrored a motion of his own that he had prepared to bring as well.
“We have a national crisis of immense proportions,” he said.
Mr. McLaughlin said laws preventing peaceful individuals from possessing firearms or instruments for personal protection were “complete and utter nonsense”.
He said the current justice system at all stages, prevention, apprehension, investigation and prosecution, is broken.
“It is failing. If we need to call inquiries, then we need to call inquiries,” he said.
Independent member Ezzard Miller gave his full and unconditional support for the motion, adding that he wished the meeting with Mr. Taylor and Mr. Baines would be open so that the public could hold officials accountable for the proceedings of the meeting. Mr. Miller said it was time for the police to be a true ‘force’ rather than a ‘service’, urging for all police officers to be armed with non-lethal Tasers.
Several members called for a switch to more aggressive US-style policing instead of following the UK’s example.
“On this day, the members of this Legislative Assembly decided enough is enough, and we want action, not service,” Mr. Miller said.
Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden said the perpetrators they are dealing with “are not Sunday schoolchildren”.
“We gotta stop pussyfooting. These are criminals. We got to deal with them once and for all,” he said.
Mr. Eden expressed his support for capital punishment and American-style “three strikes” laws that prescribe life sentences for third convictions of committing serious crimes. He also said that any criminal targeting his home would risk meeting a lethal response from his personal firearm.
“If I am invaded, Betsy [referring to his firearm] don’t mind losing a few children. As a lawmaker I shouldn’t say that. We need to send a message,” Mr. Eden said.
George Town MLA Ellio Solomon suggested that Mr. Bush and Mr. McLaughlin come together to determine whether changes to the Constitution are needed to help deal with crime.
Bodden Town MLA Mark Scotland said, “I am proud to be a member of the Government today.”
Mr. Scotland said people have very little confidence in police and not a great deal of confidence in the judiciary either.
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I had to read this article twice. You mean they might actually do something?? WOW. Better late than never. Thank goodness.
The only way this will work is if the public allow the police to do thier jobs. I predict there will be a group of persons that will cry blue murder because some low life wannabe (or is already) criminal is being treated too harshly and it is a violation of thier civil liberties.
Kick some damn doors down arrest, impound vehicles, and YES harrass the low lifes, people want results then the same complainers are just going to have to take a back seat or the criminal will win, but at least the human rights advocates will be happy right?
Explain this me to…if the criminals are using guns why not allow your police the same? A gun versus a non-lethal Tasers at 40 feet, who do you think will win? If these criminals are drug addicts they’ll do anything to survive. At least consider allowing the police to have concealed weapon? I’m from the states…I don’t understand how you can contest gun fire with tasers. I’m glad this has finally gotten the attention within your Govt.
I have been coming to Cayman since 1998 and watched a virtually crime free society become as crime riddled as any big city. I am retired from a major US city police department, serving 35 years fighting street crime. Your problem here is a lack of seriousness on the part of the legislature and a velvet glove form of policing imported from the UK. In addition, this relatively recent increase in violent crime will continue to escalate, since the perpetrators know that there is no armed force to confront them. While the uniform support group may have weapons in their cars, it takes a while to get them. That is often too late and the unarmed traffic officers that are the first responders are unarmed and at a significant disadvantage. In addition, your citizenry is totally unarmed and the criminal element knows this very very well. An armed confrontation with the police is only a matter of time.
A serious crime task force will only be effective if the attitudes behind it are serious as well.
More talk. Nothing new here.
Re: George Town MLA Ellio Solomon suggested that Mr. Bush and Mr. McLaughlin come together to determine whether changes to the Constitution are needed to help deal with crime.
No constitutional changes should occur, except via a referendum on any proposed changes.
Well let’s not get all exited about a motion in the Legislative. Who knows what great changes will come from those great words of wisdom from our great politicians.
I honestly hope it will help because God knows we need some help but then as they say God helps those that help themselves.
I like the comment in the story form Mark Scotland…I hope you will not have to change your words to a sad day to be in Government if you Politicians can’t put your words into actions.
Not sure why Mr Bush wants to rough up the Governor…I guess if it makes him feel better and dodge some responsibility then that makes sense.
Armed police were stopping people in cars going into and out of West Bay tonight. Perhaps a result of this new call to action? It’s about time.
The problem of Cayman’s rise of gangs and gang crime was being discussed back in early 2000. The reality has been coming to fruition to what we see today – crime seeming to rule the streets.
Arming police with tasers will help the police defend themselves, but the attacks happen, not surprisingly, when there are no police around although street CCTV might get the police at the right place in a timely fashion.
Forming a SOCU is a way to tackle the bigger picture. In the UK they coordinate long and intricate investigations into organised crime – not only the violent crime side (robberies etc) but also from the financial side (money laundering; illegal businesses). If you capture the money, then you tie the hands.
One example in the UK was the use of security guards to protect premises from robberies… when it turned out that the organised crime ‘gang’ that was committing the robberies owned the company who supplied the security guards. This is something I worry about with Cayman’s current trend. It’s not just as easy sometimes as catching the bottom level of criminals as these can be replaced. You need to break the whole organisation.
At last, ineffective Policing is being addressed – i can only hope that this is not too late for Grand Cayman.
Do whatever it takes to get your lovely little island back to it’s former self. We are terribly worried and concerned to read about the (almost) daily violent crime that is sweeping across the island. Such an awful pity – you ‘have it all’ but are in danger of throwing it away if urgent action is not taken.
They aren’t doing anything. And their crime meeting was nothing more than, we have no idea what to do, so lets announce a meeting to the public to make it look like we are doing something.
Taser’s should have been implemented 2 years ago. When crime started to rear it’s ugly head.
It’s not time for taser’s anymore. It’s time for guns now. They have let this problem slide that much.
But that isn’t in the motion.
CI is in denial about the root of this crime. Associated gangs are operating with impunity here. There are thousands – THOUSANDS – of illegals staying in Cayman and preying off people.
Authorities need to go house-to-house (come on, you know the areas where they live) and confront these people. When they are unable to present their papers, DEPORT them. If they are rounded up again, JAIL THEM.
You have six months to solve this problem, then the word will really be out and the tourists will stop coming. They are already charged 2X for restaurants, flights and hotels versus Mexico, WHY would you come here if you will also get held up?
Much of the cause of this drastic rise in local, violent crime must be laid at the door of the authorities in Cayman as well, including the police.
Favouritism and connections within the criminal community by members of the police force was a problem back in the day, before this situation escalated.
You would find certain police officers covering for their friends, harrassing and arresting competitors and enemies of their friends and family, while other criminals operated with impunity…the local Caymanian community are very well aware of this and now the proverbial ‘brown smelly stuff’ has hit the fan.
Another area of favouritism and discrimmination lies on how and who the RCIPS issues firearms licences to.
The law calls for certain conditions to be met, not dictate who should or shouldn’t be allowed to legally own a firearm but…
The RCIPS issues firearms licences to the rich and priviledged on a regular basis but the average citizen is denied an application, even though they are the ones that most likely will need a firearm for their own protection more.
This statement by this Govt. minister is stark proof of this; he has his gun at home for his own safety and isn’t shy about saying so.
I have to totally agree, the UK-style policing and policies regarding the issue and use of firearms by police does not work, not even in the UK but gun crime is not as prevalent in the UK as it is in Cayman right now.
The Premier and his cohorts have had years to do something about the growth of crime in Cayman, including West Bay. The existing laws are sufficient for the pursuit of criminals and bringing them to justice.
Why have these laws not been properly enforced? Because it would result in criminals being brought to justice, whose families support politicians, and who have votes.
He who turns a blind eye to the criminal behaviour of his fellow citizens will eventually attract the muggings and worse, the shots.
It is utterly unreasonable to try to place the responsibility for the crime wave on the Governor (or indeed on anyone else – the responsibility lies squarely on those who run for political office with promises they know they will not carry out) ; but it a well known last resort stratagem of politicians.
As I read through the comments some of the skepticism from the contributors was understandable. Talk is cheap and the situation is dire. The composition of this force and the ongoing political and public support for this action will be necessary for any chance of success to be achieved. When little Johnny is caught with a gun and his mother gets on the news crying for justice then we will learn how much grit the politicians really have.
FOP: DEFINITION; Young OR Old.
Reread the article if you don’t know what I’m referring to.
FOP became a pejorative term for a foolish man over-concerned with his appearance and clothes in 17th century England. Some of the very many similar alternative terms are: coxcomb, fribble, popinjay (meaning parrot), fashion-monger, and ninny. Macaroni was another term, of the 18th century, more specifically concerned with fashion. A modern-day fop may also be a reference to a foolish person who is overly concerned about their clothing and incapable of engaging in intellectual conversations, activities or thoughts.
First of all, why is the Government engaging war on FOPS?
They FEED our economy by purchasing clothes and whatnot.jewelry, colognes, pedicures and spa sessions.
Instead, concentrate your efforts on individuals dressed in dark clothing, wearing ski masks and carrying guns/machetes/knifes who are between 5’2 and 6’2 in height and killing, abducting, shooting and maiming citizens.
Regardless, all in all, the Government’s COMMITTMENT to battling crime is COMMENDABLE as long as they stand behind their SOLENM WORD!
Please make it happen for your sake and ours.
Aghastone, this attitude is one of the primary reasons we are in this situation. This is NOT an immigration problem. This is a grass roots Caymanian problem. There is an underclass of Caymanians committing the vast majority of these crimes (look at the demographic of the prisoner population) and they of course have relatives further up the food chain. Some of those relatives have influence and many more of them work in the Police. The solution to Caymanian crime is:
1)Stop pretending this is anything other than a Caymanian problem;
2)Accept that a tiny jurisdiction cannot objectively police itself;
3)Bring in an armed serious crimes unit that reports directly to the governor and does not include members that have any ties to Cayman;
4)Stagger rotate the members of this unit every two years so they do not have a chance to develop ties with the community;
Implement forthwith and watch the crime rate collapse.
Isn’t the national defence, security and policing of Cayman a responsibility of the U.K. and the govenor? So, shouldn’t the pressure to deal with this growing crime situation be appllied to the govenor and London?
Why is it that the police talks the talk and don’t walk the walk? eg:
every Saturday night, the police is called concerning the drug guys in the Windsor Park park selling weed and drinks, when the police arrived they search the guys and take away the weed and does not make an arrest, also was informed to search the washers and dryers in the wash house it was not done(why)and just as their backs were turn the muusic was back on and higher than before.
The police have the right to take away the music system from them once warn a few times( it’s in the law) and nothing done about it. one just waste time and credit to call the police concerning the noise, not to talk about the landlord where they uses current from the wash house cause he is dead scared of them and if the police can’t do their job then who can? I’ve seem the police was called, an officer came and bounce the hands of the guys and left.
I will put this on the talk show to make sure it gets out because something needs to be done.
We need some serious police in the force not friend friend and family bull.