MP calls for proper police coverage in Bodden Town area

The MP for Bodden Town East has called for a halt of the practice of using police in the eastern districts to plug gaps elsewhere on Grand Cayman.

Dwayne ‘John John’ Seymour said the eastern district of Grand Cayman had traditionally been used as a stopgap reservoir of personnel.

He added, “We need to ensure proper coverage is had for the eastern district.”

The Bodden Town East Opposition MP said, “What I’ve seen in the past is they take from our eastern district complement and move them around as needed and we are sometimes short.

“I would love to see this practice reduced to its minimum.”

The MP was speaking after Olson Levy, the owner of Ocean’s Bait and Tackle in the Breakers part of the constituency, said last week he would shut up shop after the third break-in at the store in just seven months.

Seymour said, “This was a sad incident and one we want to prevent from happening to any other small business owner.”

Levy, who has run his Bodden Town store for a decade, said after the latest burglary he had no option but to quit after the stress of dealing with the string of break-ins, which cost him thousands of dollars in stolen stock, cash and damage.

He added, “The police need to be more active in the community, checking businesses at 4am. Only three things are on the road at that time of the morning – thieves, police and dogs.”

In the most recent incident, the burglars escaped with hundreds of dollars in cash, two flat screen TVs, a boom box, tackle boxes and tackle, including four cases full of tackle just in from Miami, as well as knives and 200 pounds of fresh fish.

Levy said the first burglary was minor and the thieves left without getting inside the store, but the second caused more than $2,500 worth of damage as the thieves forced entry.

Seymour said, “I’ve spoken to Mr. Levy and he has taken some comfort to see the police working as fast as they did to recover some of his property and made an arrest of two persons.”

He added, “Gone are the days when we respected other people’s property and didn’t go to the lengths these professional criminals go to.”

Collin Eccles, the owner of Chill Spot in Savannah, Bodden Town, lost about $4,000 in cash after three masked men, one with what appeared to be a handgun and two others with machetes, robbed the restaurant in February.

The three escaped in a car, but police, with help from the service’s helicopter, tracked the vehicle to Templeton Street in George Town’s Windsor Park.

A West Bay man, 34, was detained near the car in connection with the incident.

Mr Eccles said, “The Bodden Town area, I don’t have a problem here. It’s very peaceful.

“The police were very responsive to me and I don’t have a problem with the service. They’re doing their work and I’m pleased with it.”

The police have been asked for comment on Seymour’s claim that police are moved from Bodden Town to other areas to cover staff shortages.