Public closed circuit television cameras have been a fact of
life in the Cayman Islands for most of this year.
Many of us can spot them on power poles as we traverse the
roadways.
The idea behind the cameras was to help stop crime and, in
cases of crimes or accidents, assist the police with information prior to their
arrival on scene.
Many were wary of the cameras, fearing an invasion of
privacy.
So far there are government controlled cameras up in all
five districts of Grand Cayman. The government cameras send imaging back to the
911 Emergency Communications Centre in George Town, which passively monitors
the transmissions. That means that when police, fire or ambulance services
receive a call, the cameras can be zeroed in on the area to assist first
responders.
Unfortunately, the entire CCTV system has yet to be
installed. And according to the latest budget figures, it won’t be any time
soon.
Around $800,000 in funding for the second stage build out of
CCTV in the Cayman Islands – including the Sister Islands – has been nixed;
left, if you will, on the cutting room floor.
The Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs didn’t even
request money for the second stage because they probably knew the request would
be turned down.
Instead, it is seeking help from the private sector.
Many private businesses already have CCTV cameras on site
that can pick up activity on nearby roadways and in parking lots.
There have been many crimes and road accidents that have been
solved because of cameras from private sector cameras. We can assume that there
has been a reduction in crime because of the public cameras.
The budget for the Cayman Islands is tight and some things
have to give.
It is hoped that there will be money in next year’s budget
to continue the CCTV programme.
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We can assume that there has been a reduction in crime because of the public cameras.
Obviously, the CI Govt. ASS-UM-ED that there would be money to pay for this elaborate, expensive system, without doing a proper budget and feasibility study.
Now Caycompass is compunding the mistake by making this assumption, without any empirical statistical data to support it ?
This is a very irresponsible statement by Caycompass, at the very least.
Britain has one of the most extensive CCTV systems in operation on the planet…and one of the most spied upon populations in the industrial world and yes…there are statistics to prove that this system does help to prevent and solve crime.
Please, do some research and gather those statistics on the system in Cayman before making assumptions that appear to justify a CCTV system in Cayman that will now be only half as effective as it was originally intended to be…
If indeed, it has been effective any at all.