Cayman Islands Football Association president Alfredo Whittaker has vowed to implement security measures at domestic games following Sunday’s shooting during a match at the Ed Bush Stadium.
Whittaker believes additional security at sports venues would help prevent violent incidents at future games.
“We have to learn from this,” he told the Compass. “We have to get together now with the sports department… the police force, and we have to look at different ways that people are entering our football matches.”
The CIFA president and his team will be looking to hire security, who will be equipped with hand-held metal detectors, and every fan will be subjected to a “pat down” and scanned before entering the stadium.
“It used to be an open gate and everyone could walk in for free and enjoy the game because that is what we wanted but… we have to put some measures in place, like everywhere else in the world.”
Whittaker said the incentive to have security at the gate is also to stop people from bringing drugs into the stadium which he said has been an issue in the past.
“We have situations where you can smell drugs,” he said. “We have to eradicate that and we have to make football and all sports in Cayman … enjoyable [to attend].”
Whittaker also voiced concerns over several of the structures surrounding the stadium.
“Some parts of some stadiums need to be blocked,” he said. “Other parts need to be brought up to grade, and this is where we go back to the people that we have here. We have so many extremely wealthy people here and they should have our stadium, all of our stadiums and playing fields, up to par.”
While Whittaker expects “wealthy people” to give back to the sport, those actually responsible for the stadiums say they are currently working on prevention strategies.
“An assessment of security measures are currently ongoing to identify any improvements needed,” Director of Sports Kurt Hyde told the Compass. “With the population increasing, we are trying to figure out if we should repair and expand the facilities. That is where we are now, while doing it in the means of the budget.”
Hyde noted that he will have to work jointly with CIFA to minimise any potential risk of other violent incidents.
In addition to working with the Department of Sport and the RCIPS, Whittaker will also take matters into his own hands and hire officers from one of the security companies.
“The executive committee at CIFA and myself, this is something that I have always been concerned about, not only at the football matches but also at CIFA, and it’s time to implement it,” he said.
Whittaker added that many people from the football community have expressed their fears, including young players who play in the 15-to-20 age bracket.
He said those players had asked if they should expect more shootings.
“My response to them is no,” Whittaker said. “I strongly believe that this was an isolated incident. I strongly believe we should never have this experience again.”
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