Apparently, neither did the police.
But how does a police force know who to protect and who to watch out for when those close at hand to the incidents don’t speak up?
To those who don’t live in the West Bay District, it would seem that area of Grand Cayman is out of control when it comes to gun crime.
In a Compass Point series on crime in May this year, the Caymanian Compass reported that overall serious crime was down. But reality isn’t perception and it’s the perception of ever-increasing crime on Grand Cayman that has most residents and even a few tourists concerned.
And do believe that the tourists are paying attention.
Each time an article about crime in the Cayman Islands – especially shootings – appears in the media we get countless comments from former and would-be tourists questioning the relative safety of Grand Cayman. What can we now tell them? We’ve even gotten the attention of the United States Department of State travel website about the situation with gang activity in the Cayman Islands and, even though it is not supported by intelligence from local police, it is still a perception that is out there locally and globally.
According to ‘country-specific information’ about the Cayman Islands posted on the website travel.state.gov, a service of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs: “In recent year[s], the Cayman Islands have experienced an increase in criminal activity involving Jamaican gangs, including gang and drug-related shootings.
“One such shooting, in February 2010, resulted in the death of a 4-year-old US citizen. Local law enforcement authorities are aggressively addressing these challenges, which affect the West Bay area, in particular.” How are we to argue with that? We lamented the loss of innocent Jeremiah Barnes at the time of his death. It is our prayer that the shootings stop and the police get information they can act on so we can all feel safe once again, and not just in West Bay.
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Yes indeed – ‘we tourists’ are very unhappy, and watch the situation in Cayman with growing concern. The latest shooting was very close to a resort from which we regularly dive ….. no longer an appealing thought.
It obvious that your Local Police cannot cope,and lack expertise and skill in dealing with serious crime. Act now before it is too late to save Grand Cayman from the thugs that are running freely. SEEK ASSISTANCE from outside Agencies, do whatever it takes. We would be terribly sorry to turn our back on what was such a wonderful little island, that for us ‘had it all’, but if things do not change considerably we will not be back.
Sadly, as a US tourist I will not be returning to Cayman becaue of the crime. I have enjoyed many years on your beautiful and hospitable island, but the crime is not something I want to deal with. You must put a stop to the problem or you will have no tourists. So sad.