A government-commissioned review of the Cayman Islands prison system has noted some concern in the apparent lack of Caymanian staff members within not only the prison service, but also the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and prisoner counselling roles.
The report, completed by government’s Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs and representatives from Canada’s Institute of Public Administration, found fewer than half of the prison system’s staff members were Caymanians.
A review of the RCIPS last year also found that 48 per cent of the service’s officers were Caymanian and 52 per cent were non-Caymanian. Civilian employees within the police service were split about 69 per cent Caymanian to 31 per cent non-Caymanian.
According to the review, a number of possible reasons for the prisons not hiring local officers were given. They included concerns that Caymanian prison officers would know or be related to certain offenders, that prisoners might not feel comfortable being in a “treatment relationship” with a local person, and that there was a “lack of interest” among locals in prison service and inmate counselling careers.
Dozens of individuals who work in and around the prison system were interviewed for the report and it seemed all those individuals were not in agreement. The document noted that concerns about locals being placed in prison-related functions were raised most strongly by non-Caymanian stakeholders who were interviewed.
“We are not convinced by the arguments against having Caymanians serve as prison officers,” the report read. “Having Caymanians act as prison staff would invest Caymanian society with a keen interest in rehabilitation, as it is Caymanian society that is the residual victim of criminal behaviour.”
The report recommended that government set an “immediate target” of having the prison staff be composed of 50 per cent Caymanians by 2016.
There were no recommendations made regarding the police force makeup, since the report largely focused on prison issues and inmate rehabilitation. However, it was also recommended the government create a committee of current Caymanian prison staff, police officers and local citizens to review whether any barriers exist toward hiring local prison staff.
Recent discussions among members of the Prisons Inspection Board, as recorded in minutes of various meetings, also note some difficulties within the prison system encountered with foreign-born officers.
“{A board member] raised the issue of a language barrier between the inmates and the Filipino guards, some of whom barely speak English,” the minutes of the 25 November Prisons Inspection Board meeting read. “This was noted by inspectors in their attempts to communicate with [the officers who were from the Philippines].”
The board member also noted their views that the job of a modern prison officer is to assist in the rehabilitation of inmates and doing so would have to require that they speak the same language.
The issue was raised again in a board meeting from March 2011, when members noted concern over how prison officers from the Philippines – referred to as “Pilipinos” – were being treated.
“There is a language and communication barrier between the inmates and the officers of ‘Pilipino’ origin,” the March meeting notes recorded. A recent count of the Northward Prison population, which now houses around 200 male prisoners, revealed that some 80 per cent of those being held were Caymanians. Nearly 90 per cent of those locked up for violent crimes were Caymanians, prison figures noted.
Help wanted
The report noted this as a crucial reason for rehabilitating inmates, rather than just locking them away for long sentences.
“Many [stakeholder] groups identified the stigma attached to a criminal record and the challenges for offenders to secure employment upon release from prison,” the document noted. “If offenders are not able to secure employment, the likelihood of their re-offending is significantly higher.”
An obvious barrier to employment would be a criminal record, which is now required to be disclosed on all government and private sector job applications in the Cayman Islands.
“While this [disclosure] is necessary for jobs with certain security requirements and jobs involving work with children/youth, it should cease to be a standard practice for other positions,” the report opined.
A focus on rehabilitative efforts in prison should be led by a newly created position within the prison service, a Deputy Director of Prison Rehabilitation, who would report directly to the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs.
That person and a private sector leader could then set up a community employment programme with the aim of reintegrating and employing ex-convicts in the community.
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The CI Govt. could have come to people like myself, had a drink or a cup of coffee at any restaurant or lounge in the Cayman Islands…and we could have given them every single bit of this information…
For a drink, a meal or a cup of coffee…
Of course they coulnd’t get it totally FOR FREE !
Duh…!!!!
The prison service, and might I add, much of Cayman’s economy is staffed by foreign nationals who can’t speak English properly, protect each other’s interests by ridiculing, berating and undermining Caymanians, protect their economic interests by using Caymanians problems against them, fill up the country and government institutions and businesses with their own friends and families…and connive to have the police arrest and charge Caymanians, when they can, whenever a dispute arises with them…and provoke these confrontations…
And now, suddenly, all of this is NEWS ?
Which Cayman Islands has these people in power been living in for the last 20 or so years ?
Who, btw, has built this entire system for their financial gain, and nothing more.
And now that the white elephant of the recidivism is knocking on everyone’s door, its time for a miracle ?
Please, give me a break !
I left Cayman, as an educated, very capable and experienced Caymanian-born national, to live in another country where I have the right to live but will never be a true-born national because…
I simply wasn’t prepared to have a population of foreign-born nationals stepping on my toes, elbowing me out of the way, provoking confrontations and thinking, that on my part, there would be no retaliation because they now hold all the power in Cayman.
I just happen to be one of a minority of Caymanians for whom ‘turning the other cheek’ does not come easily; I’m more of ‘an eye-for-an-eye’ type of guy.
As most of these foreign nationals working and living in Cayman are; no disrespect intended to the more passive element of people in Cayman but…
That passivity amongst Caymanians has led to this problem, as well.
Put my comments as one Caymanian’s personal experience into your prison report; it might be useful.
And its totally, FOR FREE.
DISGUSTING!
What ‘KOOL AID’ have these people been drinking??
Really, more officers, really???
How many times will we use that bandaid?
Let’s get honest and serious.
The 48% of Caymanian officers are made up of more foreign nationals who have status and when asked directly will call themselves Caymanian, so I will classify them as foreigners for a more accurate tally of the makeup of officers.
Is it possible to correlate the number of Jamaican civil servants losing their jobs but re-hired here?
Can we get the number of officers who having reached their 7th year of residing here were employed as officers?
Can we get group pictures of ALL recruits and their nationalities and not just the Filipino male? as if… ‘oh yes, we’re hiring other nationals too!’ and any foreigner not West Indian or the Caymanians usually give up and leave – wonder why?
I wonder if Franz will have the courage to curtail this favourable treatment of hiring Jamaicans/West Indians over Caymanians, British and other nationals?
If the other residents here continue to fight Caymanians, siding with certain foreign nationals portraying ‘power/control’ they tool will be used (marriage, work, business ventures) and their kids will suffer and have no choice but to leave.
It’s time to end this obvious recruitment of certain people with the token here and there to appear as if all procedures/processes were followed objectively. PLease!!! a blind man can see what’s on the wall. Wonder which political group all these recruits for CIG can tied to via friends/HR Managers?
Keep questioning and remember……all eyes focused on Dart may result in greater expenditure in the labour costs of a civil services packed with foreigners.
And another thing….all the programmes in the world will not help Caymaians.
If I may, share my last personal experience of this nature, upon leaving the Cayman Islands for the last time, in late 2008.
I have been a valuable customer of a reputable travel agency in George Town since my youth; the people there have known me for many years, as I know them.
When entering the establishment to purchase my ticket to leave Cayman, I took my seat in the qeue and waited my turn to be called to the counter.
While waiting, 3 Jamaican nationals entered the establshment and took their seats; one male and two females, although it was not immediately apparent that they were together.
When it came my turn to be served, one of the females jumped up out of her seat, looked directly and aggressively at me and attempted to be served at the desk before me.
I immediately intervened and remonstrated with her that she came in after me and should wait her turn, this was done in a manner that left her in no doubt that the matter was non-negotiable, although not in a necessarily aggressive manner.
Immediately, her male companion, who I know as an ex-prison officer and now court bailiff started shouting in the business, accusing me of a ‘bad attitude’ but obviously attempting to provoke a confrontation, in which he could then call his friends at the GT police headquarters and have them become involved.
I answered him in no uncertain terms, that if this female was his companion, that he should ‘teach her some manners’ before bringing her out into the public.
I then proceeded to conclude my business with the travel agent and apologised for the unseemingly confrontation, which at no time, had I acted exceedingly aggresive, although a quarrel had taken place.
In the meantime, this court bailiff had sat down in the business waiting to see if the staff would accuse me of aggressive behaviour, for which he was hoping.
He had no clue that they knew me very well and had been on my side all along and had accepted my apology simply as a mark of respect.
I left the business with him sitting there, with a face like thunder, absolutley frustrated that he could not call his Jamaican friends in the RCIPS and have me arrested.
If anyone thinks that this is a unique or irregular type of occurrence in Cayman, they need to think again.
THE POINT IS:
WE NEED TO ADDRESS ‘QUALITY’ vs QUANTITY OF OFFICERS PERIOD.
Otherwise, many of us will continue to see and note the obvious, the increase in crime and lack of rehabilitation.
The language barrier will be used to unfairly discriminate against hiring Filipino nationals. What they lack in proper English they make up for with patience and good manners, which is probably a more effective factor in rehabilitation, in my opinion.
Also, if the level of comprehension and ‘proper English’ will be on the ‘test’ for suitable applicants, are the recruiters sure they want to go down that road?
BOTTOM LINE: SPEND THE ADDITIONAL MONEY OUR GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO HAVE ON-
(1) PREVENTION NOT THE EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO DON’T WANT TO LEAVE OR WANT TO WORK IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS, AND
(2)ENSURING THERE ARE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EX-CONVICTS AND LOCALS
The trouble with using per cents in an article without actual numbers is that one wonders how many people are we talking about. What is the actual body count in the RCIPS between 48 and 52 per cent? 4 or 400 or what? What jobs and their requirements to be hired for do civilians do? How many will be retiring in the next 6 months? Is all, some, or any of this a result of recent releases for cause?
no worries firery / bm
revolution soon come to our beloved cayman islands
our people shall reclaim all that has been taken away from us
we have way to many key employees ( bred born caymanians ) graduating every year they will not go unheard in their place of birth
we shall overcome
they might push us into the ocean but we caymanians are strong swimmers we will not drown!!
bm
Are you a foreign national worker recruiter for the Phillipino Govt. your self, or some other country…
You certainly sound like one.
Yours are a perfect example of the comments and attitudes of foreign nationals who now absolutely think that they have a RIGHT to work in Cayman, in any industry or profession…
Over the national Caymanians.
What in ‘if you do not speak English properly, you cannot ‘COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY’ in any area of an English speaking society…
Much less an area as sensitive as prisoner education and rehabilitation ?
Discrimmination against foreign nationals in Cayman ‘who want to work there’ as if wanting to work there gives any and every foreign national the RIGHT, just because they want to ??!!
I’ll stop typing now because the rest of my comments to you would be unprintable anyway !
bm…
Let me inform you…
The test for British citizenship, and residency visas now include an English language and comprehension test for foreign, non-English speaking national wishing to qualifiy to live and work in Britain permanently.
Count yourself lucky that Britain leaves the Caymanian immigration laws and policies in the hands of Caymanians and do not impose these laws in Cayman…but look for the CI Govt. to begin to take cue.
The CI Govt cannot continue to sell out the lives and future of its own people for the sake of a few filthy dollars, without impending dire consequences…
And I for one, couldn’t care less who don’t like these comments.
The sooner the Cayman Islands moves to MOVING OUT every non-qualified, non-English speaking foreign national from every position for which there is a QUALIFIED and CAPABLE CAYMANIAN to take their place can’t come soon enough for me !
Maybe you don’t get the point that this prison report is clearly saying that having as many foreign nationals in the prison service is ADDING to the problem of prisoner recidivism…not solving it.
And it covertly accuses these foreign nationals of conspiring against the Caymanians under their control.
Of course, people like yourself will quickly shoot the messenger, rather than accept the message.
Right! The Report recommends increasing the size of government, which will mean increasing fees and duties in order to maintain its already bloated size! Rather than more officers and more numbers, we need a change in government management!
@ fiery…….I do not disagree with anything you have stated. I put all foreigners in one group when I discuss issues for comparison of treatment between a local and foreign national.
as a matter of fact your comment The sooner the Cayman Islands moves to MOVING OUT every non-qualified, non-English speaking foreign national from every position for which there is a QUALIFIED and CAPABLE CAYMANIAN to take their place can’t come soon enough for me ! is totally on point!
As I said in first post, the same sentiments re recruiting Caymanians have always been used to prevent locals filling those posts, i.e. prison police officers.
The common excuse was that we couldn’t police our own! What a ridiculous statement. So it begs the question since there are so many Jamaican ‘nationals’ including those with status in our entire legal system, does that mean they can’t enforce laws fairly, objectively because they make up the majority of workers/residents? No!!!!! Despite that obvious fact, which can be supported by numbers, they’re given the benefit of enforcing OUR laws upon OUR people. The point is obvious, any changes made to employment/immigration are more than proportionately in favour of foreign nationals period. So trust me that report will lead to hiring more Jamaicans period! This is just my opinion based on the numbers and practices…check it yourself.
So no I am not a supporter of favouring Filipino officers/workers, I just think if the laws/procedures are to be applied fairly address the obvious positive hiring practices given to Jamaican nationals too.
Trust me…..I can put ALL foreigners in one group and examine/analyse the impact on us, the local people, who are constantly made to feel we ‘act entitled’.
Try telling that to ANY foreign national and worse if foreign nationals are in charge of recruitment or have their yes man/woman Caymanian HR Manager, any competition to the ’emerging dominant groups will probably face actual enforcement of tests, suitable qualifications before being hired and if hired as a token then are given such unafvourable treatment they usually end up leaving.
Really?? you lot make John Terry and Luis Swarez seem like Nelson Mandela, us and them foreigners out….and this from a self proclaimed christian nation.
bm
You’re points are valid but I don’t agree with your reasoning…and I’ll give you my reasons.
To start with…my sentiments are not politically-motivated anti-foreigner rhetoric, which is what much of the commentary on these topics on this and other forums are.
I’m the most open-minded and ‘accepting of inviduals’ person you will ever meet, when those individuals earn my respect and are willing to reciprocate it…I have friends from every nationality that is common to Cayman, both inside and outside of Cayman; I am no anti-expatriate Caymanian.
Your valid points here indicate that you are familiar with how the system SHOULD work, on a conceptual basis.
My points are made on the view, with evidence to back them up, including this prison report…on how the system IS or IS NOT working and this is based on the human principles of social dynamics…which history has proven over and over again.
Those principles say, and prove, that when a population of imported nationals of any origin is allowed to populate the territory of an indigenous population, outnumber them, control their administrative, judicial and even cultural institutions, that indigenous population eventually becomes extinct…or demoted to second-class servitude in their own territory.
Do I need to point out to you the historical wars that have ensued throughout 000s of years of the world’s history to show you the results of this happening ?
What has happened on the streets and in the institutions of Cayman is exactly the same thing; the natural human premise being that the strong dominates the weak…this is no different in the human realm than it is in the animal kingdom, where it is more openly evident.
You have mentioned the Jamaican element in Cayman so let me be blunt about it.
I grew up, was educated almost totally in and have strong family ties to Jamaica and I can assure you, the majority element of Jamaicans that have taken root in Cayman do NOT CONTROL Jamaica…I should know as I come from a background of political family ties in Jamaica.
These are the very same people that the Jamaican system has to keep in check as their nature is an aggressive and domineering one…and this is now quite evident in how they operate in their jobs and institutions in Cayman.
The Philipino element are openly quiet and passive but to know Philipinos, you must again study the history of their country.
If you actually believe that Philipino people are peaceful and passive then you have no clue of the wars that the Phillipines have been historically involved in, their warrior culture, or their true national identity;the Oriental mind-set is rooted in being able to hide and control any emotions that one does not wish another to see and the Japanese are the masters at this but Philipinos do not lag very far behind them; don’t take my word for it, do a bit of research for yourself.
It is only natural that the Caymanian population would now begin to not only feel, but actually BE threatened by the sheer weight of numbers of these foreign cultures taking over the running of their country, at their own expense.
Open your eyes, look around Cayman and talk to some local grass-roots people, not just read and accept Govt. and isntitution reports and statiistics…
And you will see exactly what I am saying.
Bless.