The Chamber of Commerce is shocked and sickened by the five apparently gang related killings carried out recently in the areas of West Bay, George Town and East End. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families. The squandered lives of these young men is both saddening and horrifying as we struggle to come to terms with such outlandish behaviour from these Cayman youth.
This is not however the first time we have had to deal with gang violence. In 2005, amendments were made to Cayman’s penal code to better identify the attributes of gang activity and increase the available powers to the RCIPS when dealing with this type of crime. Gangs were not tolerated then and they will not be tolerated now.
The business community is ready and willing to assist and gives our full support to His Excellency the Governor, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, and the Government of the Cayman Islands. We hope the additional resources made available to the RCIPS will help support the implementation of the crime reduction strategy and these strategic efforts will be executed to their fullest. In particular, any actions that support the collaboration of our border protection agencies to better prevent the illegal importation of drugs and firearms.
The economic fallout of these types of crime is potentially devastating to our Islands. Reports are being carried throughout the world via social media networks and news sites that have the potential to do great harm to our reputation as a desirable tourism destination and a place to do business. We must protect both our reputation and community by doing everything we can to see that those responsible are removed from society and are prosecuted for these terrible crimes.
Our greatest strength has always been our people, and our collective message must be “We do not tolerate any form of crime in the Cayman Islands”. We urge the public to work with the RCIPS and to report any suspicious activity that might assist the police in their investigations. Cayman Crime Stoppers is also available 24 hours a day on 800-TIPS as an alternative way to provide anonymous information.
Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce
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By Dr. Florence Goring-Nozza,D.Div.
Now that our local business association is offering their assistance to fight crime in Cayman; I recommend that a perfect start for the Chamber of Commerce would be to start doing their share by doing the right thing. It is the duty of all Chamber business owners to ensure employment of our local young people in order to keep them occupied and away from criminal activity if you will, keep your businesses safe! 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 buildup self confidence, self esteem, embrace job opportunity in their own country, consequently becoming self sufficient.
Meantime our local churches need to establish ministries with effective outreach programs that are managed by properly trained and experienced staff while accommodating those at risk youths who have no religious affiliations or have never visited any branch of the traditional church. The Ministers Association as a corporate body need to get out of your comfort zone, come out from hiding behind those stained glass windows where man made dress codes pressure poor people to stay away due to their unpopular appearance in the eyes of the religious holier than thou fanatics. It’s high time to use the gifts, tithes and offerings wisely putting it to some good use. Its high time to pitch some tents onto some of the vacant land areas in each and every district, holding open house events for troubled youth to walk- in off the streets providing the alternative counseling, guidance, comfort and rest from a life of crime. Bring the church to these young people 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. Government grants are designed for the purpose of building communities, i.e., building people and shaping their lives, not building huge Cathedrals! Therefore human services and social development focusing on the mind, body soul and moral clarity, should be the main focus of the local church. The concept of no child left behind is first the and foremost the responsibility of the church not just the schools. We have to finally get it right in leading our young people towards a future of hope away from crime instead of just turning a blind eye.
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 to whom we are called. This will take some effort on the pat of the local church and in order to accomplish all this those who say they are God’s children will demonstrate that they truly have the heart of a servant because they love people and they love their community.