Premier McKeeva Bush says his hands are tied in the fight against crime.
He made the admission at a public meeting Thursday at the Sir John A Cumber School Hall.
His speech – in response to recent gang-style assassinations in Grand Cayman – came just moments before another killing was reported in the District of East End.
During his address, Mr. Bush explained to the 200-strong crowd that the new Cayman Islands constitution, which limits the powers of parliament to influence policing and security, is failing the Islands. He said the situation was only being compounded by external forces that have an interest in de-stabilising the Cayman Islands through discrediting the government and people.
“At this time all the government can do is vote funds. How, when and where the money is spent is out of our hands. This is what the people of this country voted for against my advice,” explained Mr. Bush.
He said the shocking events of the past few days have caused him – like many – to lose sleep and “knowing that young men from 18- to 28-years-old are being assassinated shakes me to the core.”
He explained that though social programmes are important, at this point the Cayman Islands needs a special task force and to revise crime fighting strategies on the part of the police, which he and his government had been calling for since 2009. He added that the elected government would be taking a more public stand, “not just in the House”.
“We cannot allow fear and the increasing number of robberies and people getting hurt during those crimes to continue to cripple our community and we are going to do what is necessary within the law to make sure criminals are not emboldened,” said the Premier.
He told the audience members that after emergency meetings with Governor Duncan Taylor and Police Commissioner David Baines on 9 September, he was assured that such a task force would be formulated.
Some of the strategy plans outlined included a dedicated robbery unit, a robbery hot-line and cameras to be used strategically, as well as additional officers in the armed Uniformed Support Group – taking that unit from 25 to 45 officers – and providing for four armed response vehicles on a 24 hour basis. There will also be new units implemented to act as support groups for the USG, deliver support, firearms and other supplies to gain control of hot spots. The cost to the Cayman Islands for these new upgrades totals $3.6 million, supplement to $1 millions given for CCTV the week before; money the Premier said would have been better spent on after school programmes.
“The constitution restricts us from getting involved. The governor himself has said the buck stops with him in matters of policing,” urged the Premier. “If you voted for that constitution, let that message be loud and clear. We should have more say in policing and security. Don’t say I didn’t warn you about this constitution. You have not seen anything yet, wait until the Bill of Rights comes in.”
According to his assessment, the Premier said the Bill of Rights would cost the Cayman Islands $12 million to operate and implement and that was “without the buildings and before people start suing the government at every turn.” “I’d rather give someone $20,000 a year from the Social Services Department than spend millions to protect ourselves when mortgages cannot be paid. We are hoping the police can get control now. We are still a village. These murderers live and sleep somewhere, someone washes and irons their clothes. They know when these people are not working and when they turn up with money all of a sudden. The police need help!”
Mr. Bush also suggested that there may be external forces that have an interest in seeing Cayman not do well.
“We have classified documents being released so people can big up themselves and try to destroy confidence in the government. They think they are winning but they are losing and the Cayman Islands suffer when people try to undermine everything the government is doing.”
The Premier added that the media is also playing a role as detractors of the government, causing many to doubt their representatives and their own people, as well as breeding apathy and disdain in the society.
“For those who ride the back of the tiger and authorities under this constitution rather than those who are trying for better for this country, you will reap the whirlwind,” said the Premier, who added that we must first overcome our spiritual poverty before anything could change.
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Cayman isn’t so grand anymore. Now our fearless leader says his hands are tied with death and destruction reining down on our youth. It took him a very long time to connect the dots between crime and public safety even though in his own district of West Bay crime is an every day fact of life. You could say that his own district is crime ridden and he never opened his mouth or made a half hearted effort to do anything so when it spread to the rest of the not so grand Cayman, he shifts the blame. What a complete fraud. His hands weren’t tied when he handed out millions of government money to Pastors that did not deserve it when those same millions could have bought guns for the Police and programs for our youth. What kind of Nation building is that? What kind of morons does he take us for? Most of us did not just come down with the rain and we are not from West Bay so take responsibility for your inactions and stop insulting our intelligence. We have a big problem let’s fix it.
Cayman Islands has failed to take heed of what has been happening in neighbouring islands like Jamaica, and Trinidad in terms of Crime. Maybe we put our heads in teh sand and were thinking this cannot happen to us; we are Christians. My fellow people, have you ever heard teh saying, when you neighbour house on fire throw water on yours? You failed to put measures in place to curtail crime now this house is on fire and it has a deadly spiral effect.
Fire ant, whatever happen in the past is in the past. We have to move on now and remedy the problems.Everyone is in the pickles togather. Its no sense playing blaming game now. What we need now is a cooperative and comprehensive effort by all concerned to tackle the problems now and in the future, and in doing so it is well to remember the mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them.It means problems in the police and their enforcement and detection methods,information to be given by the public,the problem of employment and relevant education, especially to the less academically inclined and to recover our lost generation.
External forces, destroy confidence.
This sadly sounds like paranoia.
Fire ant is closer to the reality.
What was done or should I say not done in the past is a result of what is happening now. McKeeva needs to be reminded daily he has dropped the ball on gangs and crime.
These are criminals running the country now… they are basically terrorist and no one has an answer for it. hands are tied… then step down and let the people run this Country!!!
I say arm our police!! enough is enough… put the fear in those that try and defy our well-being and bring shame to Cayman.
The almight Mr. Bush saying his hands are tied is simply putting the blame on somebody else. A true politician and the only possible thing he could do is to say exactly that. Thats because he has no idea what to do because he doesnt have nor did he ever have an original idea.This is nothing but blatent disrespect for the people of Cayman saying that the leader of the country can do nothing. Hogwash.
Another politician copping out. If he has no control over the police then why is he even talking about crime. Someone had better get control of that country if it wants to continue to exist.
Until that happens I will not visit the islands.
Just love his splendidly muddled metaphors and misquotations! Anyone else but me, Babe!
Oh yes: and blame the media also – for reporting the facts. That’s another indicator of paranoia.
Mr. Premier, please allow me to help you relax those bonds:
You could show real leadership and:
Declare that no-one can leave mandatory education before 18 unless they pass a standard literacy and numeracy test.
Demand of the Department of Social Services that the Maintenance Law be enforced.
Call for the relentless and effective pursuit of deadbeat dads.
Limit the number of non Caymanian dependants that are allowed to enter Cayman and clutter up (your words) our overcrowded schools for free.
Ensure that immigration and the DER are applying the existing rules fairly, firmly, and consistently.
Revoke appropriate Cabinet Status grants and demand the deportation of recipients who turned out to be serious criminals.
Amend the laws to ensure that persons found guilty of various offences serve an adequate sentence.
Maintain visa restrictions on nationalities demonstrably involved in a substantial element of unlawfulness.
Ensure that breaches of the Trade Business licensing Laws are enforced so that Caymanians can have a sense of ownership in their future again.
Demand that pensions and health insurance be paid.
…and even if you were feeling really brave, quietly call for at least an investigation of whether or not some limited relaxation of anti abortion laws may assist with some of the issues we face.
…or alternatively, you can blame the Governor.
The Premier is NOT TELLING THE TRUTH HE CAN VERY WELL DO SOMETHING ABOUT CRIME!
People the premier is Hoodwinking you and causing you more grief and sorrow purposely by not telling you the TRUTH. How long will you tolerate this deceptive leadership?
Quite frankly we should be dancing in he streets that we have a governor and Comm of police that ultimately decide on crime. Besides he few RCIP political croonies who do their dirty work against some of us making our lives miserable.
Gov..Duncan congrats for dealing with the Jamaica Visa, that’s what we have a Governor for. McKeeva Bush is opening up our island to criminals from Jamaica and the res of the world. Make sure you impose fingerprinting and proper ID too ’cause we need to know who to catch! McKeeva’s laws keep criminals hidden and safe, we want them caught, identified and put away for life including sex offenders snatching and killing our women. Link he investigation to AMW America’s Mos Wanted and Jamaica’s Most Wanted, do what you have o do. Mr. Bush is under investigation so he don’t give a damn what happens to the res of us. Its all about him.
the PPM and Independent member must work with the governor or go to the UK asking the FCO office for military interception of this gang war raging on this island killing our tourism and financial industry before its too late.
Pack your bags and get off o he UK all of you opposition members and stop pandering.
Meantime PUT CAYMANIANS TO WORK so they don’t have to join gangs but earn an honest living.
Guys you now understand we can not afford this UDP and its leader to be elected again, Never again. They have destroyed this country they are he blame for all his crime as families have no livelihood as McKeeva and Cheri Bodden Cowan grant work permits and amnesty for he entire world. THEY HAVE TO GO!
In terms of a special task force, what happened to the task force set up on 2005 to combat Cayman’s growing gang problem? This followed a spate of gang killings and shootings, including one inside the hospital, which followed an earlier spate of killings in 2001. (Tad Stoner, Compass, 29th April 2005)
That report says that in 1996 that 7 gangs had made principle inroads into schools. What was seen in 2005 was an ‘upping’ of what had started in 1991/1992. Now that is something to think about.
If a neutral or completely new reader of the posts on this forum was to take these statements by Premiere Bush at face value, they would be deceived by what he is saying here but…
He can’t deceive those of us who were involved and engaged totally at the very start of the constitutional negotiations that led to him assuming the power of Cayman’s first premiere under the new constitution.
What McKeeva Bush is saying here is that if he cannot have full dictatorial power over the citizens of Cayman, then he is willing to sit back and allow the society to self-destruct…which is human nature, when left totally to its own devices.
I have never taken sides in this political divide between UDP and PPM; the history and background from which I come in Jamaica has made me much wiser than that and for very good reasons…
But, I have to agree with Vietnam, Dubai and whoever else that affirms that McKeeva Bush should NEVER, EVER again be elected into power in the Cayman Islands.
Bush also called police useless but indirectly by saying that he gave them extra 4 mill but it seems to have done nothing at all.
Isnt it obvious,ammendments to the constitution,a small minority are doing significant damage to the image of the islands,and it goes without saying tourism. William Morey Cork Ireland
why can’t the cayman islands bring in the Royal Special Air Services (SAS)…it would take 2 weeks to completely clean this up….fighting a war against crime…and saving a British Crown Colony….has anybody even considered this…extreme measures for extreme circumstances…clean this up!…your economy will go down faster than you ever thought possible
By Dr. Florence Goring-Nozza,D.Div.
I was reading an article on this morning where the local business association is offering their assistance to fight crime in Cayman. I recommend that the Chamber of Commerce may want to start doing their share by ensuring employment of our local young people to keep them occupied and away from crime. As the old saying goes An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Chamber of commerce members are the business owners in Cayman and they can do their part by offering employment and job training for our young people which will empower them and equip them to build self confidence, self esteem, embrace job opportunity in their own country, and be self sufficient.
Meantime the churches need to establish effective outreach programs and ministries with properly trained staff accommodating those who have never visited a traditional church. Get out of you comfort zone, come out from hiding behind those stained glass windows. It’s high time to pitch some tents on some of the vacant land areas in each and every district, holding open house events for troubled youth to walk in off the steets. Bring the church to them instead of waiting for them to come to the church. Churches should also get involved with the job recruitment process Introducing work programs that will provide job recruitment and training for these troubled youth. Governments grants are designed for the purpose of building communities, i.e., building and shaping the lives of people, not buildings, but human services and development should be the main focus of the church. The concept of no child left behind is first the responsibility of the church not the schools.
It’s time to organize for Cayman, so far we have missed the mark of the high calling of the ministry of the church in our local community.
Some of our paper Caymanians don’t seem to realize that the Jamaican influence on our society must be checked and that we must protect our boarders. I just finished reading a Jamaican Doctor’s plea in support of the rejected Jamaicans visa waiver program by Governor Duncan Taylor and I rightly so.
Dr. Mazouca was the person making the plea.He suggested we should take in those under l5 yrs old and those over 70 years old. It sounded like a UDP/golding plot to really mash up this country like Jamaica is now mashed up for too long. Here’s my response to Dr. Marzouca.
Here is my response.
Dr. Marzouka,
Are you for real? Who is going to accept these under l5 yr olds?They are minors Juveniles ! who belong with their parents or caretakers back home in Jamaica where they belong. NOT CAYMAN. Seems like Jamaica feel they owned Cayman at one time, then lost it like Mexico lost Texas and L.A. and is now fighting and determined to TAKE IT BACK! You all went independent, made a fool of yourselves so get over CAYMAN! It’s not yours. Dr. Marzouca’s new pitch sounds like part of a long term UDP survival strategic plan to me. More than likely these juveniles Dr.Mazouca wants to unload on us are potential upcoming Jamaican gang members and Doctor you have a real nerve to want to impose this on Caymanians at a time when crime is on the uprise?. I expected better of you. And how can over 70 Year Olds contribute to our society? By transferring them as liabilities on our economic structure. So upon landing at Owen Roberts Airpot a Social Service van picks up Jamaican senior citizens who cannot contribute anything to our society financially only a liability. Dr. Marzouca you really are suggesting that we immediately transport these oldl people to Social Service offices to sign up for benefits and medical care which they will need? So are you working for the Jamaican Government in transferring Jamaican’s social and economic problems over to Cayman?Are you working for Golding? This sounds like the Chinese way of treating their aged. Only difference Golding wants to use Dr. Marzouca to filter his rejects into the Cayman Islands because he does not have the financial resources to take care of them. Is this doctor gone…..or what? No disrespect but I expected better.
May I add that I think the people of the Cayman Islands need to beware of Jamaican capitalists who seek to destroy Cayman like they did Jamaica. they mashed up Jamaica now they ae trying to mash us Cayman the guns and killings is the evidence.
Firey, no one can answer this comment better than you can so I really want to hear from you on this one. I am still in shock.
You have a nerve.
Dubai, I’m curious, it sounds to me like you are saying that the surge in Crime is direct result of Jamaicans in Cayman society. Are you saying that if Jamaicans were not here there would be no crime surge? Is the Gang activity in Cayman being done by Jamaicans and Cayman youth are just innocent victims ?
NJ2Cay you’re always taking bites out of context to suit your own message. Well I clearly stated Jamaican ‘INFLUENCE yes there is where the professional gangsters come from and we recognize this and its our perogative to be cautious. We have enough bad apples of our ow already. You conveniently have short memory in forgetting what two Jamaicans did to Estella Scott Roberts. We should have started getting really strict from that time, it proved to other home grown criminals that if they commit similar crimes chances are they just might be lucky and get away. Its our county and we decide who and what we want. It’s quite disgusting having people question our wishes constantly when they can go home and question their own government. I think that’s fair.
After all we don’t answer to you at all.So its time to stop stirring things up and work with us and try to get us to like you and get along with you instead of a social and national divide. I think this makes sense.
Dubai
I’ve read the original news report on the comments of Dr. Marzouca, Mr. Hamaty, as Honourary Jamaican Consuls to Cayman and Governor Taylor and Premiere McKeeva Bush.
At the end of the day, the final decision rests with Governor Taylor and, imo, for Marzouca, Hamaty and Bush to publicly question and ridicule this decision is highly disrespectful and undermining of his authority.
Neither Marzouca or Hamaty are speaking officially on behalf of the Jamaican Government and an unbiased view would have to come to the conclusion that this is nothing more than attempting to ‘bully’ Governor Taylor into giving them what they wish.
When Britain imposed a visa requirements for Jamaicans to enter Britain, not even the Jamaican Government protested or appealed the decision..it stands as final and must simply be complied with.
Governor Taylor’s decision falls totally in line with current British policy re travel of Jamaican citizens to Britain and its BOTs.
If the Jamaican Foreign Ministry questions this policy, then there is a case to answer to; the Honourary Consul position is not an offical one and the consuls role in Cayman is to look out for the welfare of Jamaican citizens living in Cayman; they have absolutely no right to question Cayman’s immigration policy and laws.
Also, Hamaty’s statement regarding the ‘money that Jamaican citizens are grateful for making in Cayman’ in one breath and speaking of ‘their families being able to visit them in Cayman’ in another is pure garbage.
If Jamaican citizens are making that much money in Cayman, they can well afford to visit their families in Jamaica or wherever else in the world they are without needing visa exemptions; its simple, you wish to visit Cayman, apply and pay for your visa and you are free to do so.
Remember, McKeeva Bush’s deal with Dart will call for a new influx of ‘cheap labour’ to be profitable to Dart.
Governor Taylor is the only one doing Cayman any favours right now.
Need I say more ?
NJ2Cay
I don’t speak for Dubai or anyone else but I can give you some idea of what the situation is.
The majority of the drugs and guns that enter Cayman are transported from and through Jamaica.
The US Government did not extradite, convict and will now imprison Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, the acknowledged and admitted leader of the Shower Posse lightly or without overwhelming reason and evidence and that is only the tip of the iceburg regarding the power, reach and influence of the Shower Posse.
Google the Shower Posse and get some information on them and understand why many countries in the world now have restrictions on travel for Jamaican citizens.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of Jamaica’s great and lovely people suffer for the ‘not so few’ bad ones and we who are from or have ties to Jamaica are the first to admit this; this is why the murder rate and also police and military rate of killings is so high in Jamaica and I speak from personal knowledge, not second-hand opinions.
I must agree with Dubai in regards to the comments made about Estella Scott Roberts; this one touched me to the core as I was just next door at Bamboo Lounge with friends and my car parked right in the very parking lot from which she was taken.
Had I, or anyone else been in that parking lot that night at that particular time, the story might have had a different ending.
One of the convicted murderers, and the main instigator, is an ex-deportee from the United Kingdom and I am still puzzled until this day…
How did this man enter the Cayman Islands with, obviously a British criminal record, and also having been deported from Britain…
To be able to enter, work and kill a beloved Caymanian citizen, in Cayman ?
Dubai, at the end of the day, is correct, regardless of who agrees or not.
The Cayman Islands belongs to the citizens of the Cayman Islands and it is their right to make the decisions that they think in their best interest.
Flights leave Owen Roberts Airport every day and a ticket out of the Cayman Islands is quite available for anyone who does not respect this right.
Firey,
You did it again. No one could answer this online debate any better than you. You hit all the nails on the head.
You are so right. You should be some kind of honorary counsel for the Cayman Government in the UK Or they need to send for you to come home and sit on their advisory board. You’e so extremely intelligent. A genius! Only one question in my mind do they really want smart people who are great thinkers to advise them or do they want people to tell them what they want to hear?
Good answer.
I hope government I mean all of them read these comments especially yours.
I think I see what you mean Firey, I did Google this shower Posse. Is it these guys that are now taking a hold in Cayman? If so I would think that anyone suspected of being involved would be under constant surveillance. Also if it is a known fact that most of the Gun and drugs come mostly from Jamaica why doesn’t CIG put more emphasis on immigration police. If someone in Cayman doesn’t present the proper papers are they detained then deported? And can the RCIPS ask someone to present ID on demand. In the US landlords are also held responsible for insuring that their tenants are there legally is it the same in Cayman.
I can see how seasoned gangsters can influent youngsters into a life of crime, is it possible that there’s Kingpin of sort on the island running things? It may be time to do and island wide sweep for illegal’s to at least minimize this influence.
Fiery, I have been reading more about this shower posse. the whole story smells of government corruption to the highest level. Is it at all possible that there’s something bigger going on here than meets the eye that Cayman may be falling victim to?
NJ2Cay
The answer to your questions is exactly why the visa requirements are in place…Estella Roberts murderer is a perfect example of the Jamaican criminal element who, in many devious ways, facilitated by the Shower Posse, bypass all legal and immigration systems and infiltrate foreign countries around the world.
I’m happy, that with a little more authentic and genuine knowledge and research, you’ve seen the bigger picture and the true situation regarding the visa and immigration requirements that have been put in place to combat this scourge.
The unfortunate situation, is that for the Jamaican diasopora around the world, the burden of this element of Jamaican criminality has to be bourne by Jamaica’s innocent citizens, both abroad and at home in Jamaica as well.
It is, indeed, a heavy burden to bear.
I have been reading the comments, specially the ones from NJ2CAY and Firery. I’m not from Cayman but used to live in that great island. What I see is that is very easy to blame the Jamaicans and say that their influence is the one creating all this violence and gangs. What I would say and blame is the family structure. If you have a strong family structures with good values, is very hard that some young guy will be influenced by any other bad person. Where are the parents of all these boys? Do they supervise what they do? Do they know where they are at night?
I used to see a lot of young boys in the streets when I was in Cayman, with no supervision, just by themselves and friends. THAT’S THE BIG PROBLEM AND THE CORE OF ALL THIS!! Start having more aproach with your children, they are the future of a country, and what do you expect them to do if they can do whatever they want, wherever they want. This is just something that was going to come sooner or later, because when people stop caring about values, the badness comes so easy.
Stop blaming other countries, start taking responsibility for your people and care about each other. Care about your neighbor and start making some difference yourselves, dont wait for the government to do something, because it may be too late when they do so.
I really love Cayman Islands, and feel very close to their people. I really hope they do something about this now.
Ana
I, for one, am blaming no one, no other country, least of all, Jamaica, for Cayman’s current social problems.
If you’ve read my commentaries over a period of time, you will see consistensy in trying to address all sides of this debate in as fair a manner as possible.
Cayman’s problems are as complex as Cayman’s society but, like any other country or community, those of us who are from there have a more intimate and detailed knowledge of the place, its people and its problems.
What bothers me sometimes is that every ‘johnny-come-lately’ newcomer or visitor to Cayman proposes to tell us that they know more about Cayman than we do and are quick to discredit our comments as anti-foreigner or anti-expatriate simply because we have a Caymanian perspective on Caymanian issues but..
As visitors or immigrants to other countries, which I happen to have been and still am today, I am every day reminded that I was not born in this country and should respect the situation that I find here; if I push my opinions too much and too far, I will be very quickly reminded of this by people who will not be shy in any way to express this in no uncertain terms.
My comments, on the issue on which you are commenting, must be taken in context to the exchange of opinions going on between the different posters who are responding to each other.
I would request that you keep this in mind when voicing your opinions, which are very well appreciated and welcomed.
I could write you a very interesting book on the history of Cayman’s social and societal development and problems in relation to Cayman’s history and ties with Jamaica and you would be fascinated by what you read; maybe one day, I will.
Your comments regarding Cayman’s breakdown of the family structure is very accurate but was not the topic under discussion; that is a story for another day.
As a matter of fact, there is a very recent post by a respected writer and commentor on this forum that is addressing those issues and is worth a good read; she has also just written a book on Cayman’s history that I’m sure will be worth the time taken to read it.
Collectively, you have not yet seen the depth and breath of the brilliance of Caymanians and Cayman’s writers but keep your eyes open; we’re just getting started.
Hi Firey,
Your book is desperately needed and way overdue. I pray you hurry up and get started.
The issues discussed in these forums is a useful tool to lay the foundation for the topics and basic structure for a manuscript on the rich Cayman History including the good, bad and ugly. I believe you are the chosen expert mind to write the book on Politics in this region. No one else has your style, nor your level of intelligence. It is one of a kind, it is unique.You are a 21st century intellectual and we are proud that you are Caymanian. You’ve got too much education and knowledge seasoned with rich Jamaican and Cayman history having shared both cultures, you are the right individual to write about the relationships between these two Caribbean countries.
Keep writing.
Firey, what’s the name of the book you’re refering to, I’d like to read it…
NJ2Cay
The name of the book is ‘One and One is Two’ and with the shared background that I have with the author, I can guarantee that you will find interesting and fascinating information in there that will tie much of the information, topics and views discussed on this forum to Cayman’s rich history.
Part of the problem is that Cayman has produced very few authoritative historical or political books written by Caymanians in the same vein that Jamaica and Trinidad has.
Dr. Eric Williams book, ‘A History of the West Indies’ is the authorised text for most university students of West Indian history in the Caribbean.
There is or has never been any lack of educational or literary talent amongst Caymanians; that much I can guarantee you.
I think we will now begin to forge our own path and decisions as to what being ‘Caymanians’ means to us individually, instead of having that path defined for us…
You will enjoy what flows into the written page, when that begins to happen and hopefully some of the younger generation will take up the pen(word processor) a bit sooner and follow on in our footsteps.
N2Cay
Just go to Amazon.com
Search Books titles One and One Is Two
Sorry N2CAY
Go to http://www.Amazon.com
I looked up the Book description it is:
Title: ONE AND ONE IS TWO
ISBN 978-1461028970
Search Books and put in the ISBN number.It will take you right there.
Good reading.
Thanks Dubai, Firey.. I found it….