The Cayman Islands can’t compete with many other Caribbean countries in terms of sheer beauty, at least above water. Cayman doesn’t have mountains, rivers, waterfalls, rain forests and the lush greenery prevalent elsewhere in the region.
However, the one significant competitive advantage the Cayman Islands has always enjoyed over the rest of the Caribbean is unparalleled safety, both in terms of violent crimes and theft.
That competitive advantage gap may be narrowing as crime rates continue to escalate on Grand Cayman.
The Chamber of Commerce and its president, Johann Moxam, publicly raised the issue of Cayman’s crime increase this week, noting that it seems residents are becoming desensitized to reports of crime. The Chamber doesn’t believe the country should accept the current level of crime as “the new normal,” and neither do we. Just as importantly, our tourists aren’t going to accept it either and everyone should understand the implications of the following comment left on our online poll last week: “When we travel to the island, no jewelry or cash is with us.”
Taking such precautions is how prudent tourists travel to other Caribbean and Latin American destinations, and every resident of this country should be concerned if visitors are beginning to perceive Cayman as anything other than safe.
People who accept high crime rates and travel to Jamaica, Mexico or the Dominican Republic do so generally because those are the types of vacations they can afford and they are willing to barricade themselves in gated “resort compounds.”
Cayman, however, is expensive compared to those places – and still much safer – but our security is a treasure that must be protected at all costs. If gang culture “druggies and thuggies” become commonplace on our streets and beaches, it may well portend the death knell for our tourism sector.
Mr. Moxam and the Chamber are calling for a meeting with Cayman’s National Security Council to address the rising crime issue, but we’re not optimistic that will do any good. The National Security Council has proven to be of little significance, a constitutional creation that has all the bite of a paper tiger.
Nor do criminals appear to be listening to the Commissioner of Police’s tough talk on crime because their anti-social behavior is not only becoming more commonplace, but more brazen. Instead of tough talk, perhaps the RCIPS should follow the words of American President Theodore Roosevelt, who, when it came to foreign policy, preferred the “speak softly, and carry a big stick” approach.
Criminals, we believe, would respect “big stick” tactics much more than a friendly, community policing strategy that won’t force squatters from premises they are illegally occupying, even though they’ve been served a court-ordered eviction notice. A lack of enforcement when it comes to people flouting the law demonstrates weakness, encouraging and emboldening criminal behavior.
Like the Chamber of Commerce, we believe it is time for the Cayman Islands to take a more aggressive approach to policing and law enforcement. The old way isn’t working. Commissioning studies to explore the root causes of crime, while perhaps useful for future planning purposes, doesn’t stop one criminal who is past the “root” stage from committing a crime.
If the laws of the land are to be respected by all, then police need to hold everyone accountable when laws are broken. It’s time to stop trying to “understand” criminals and to get tough with toughened criminals.
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I don’t necessarily disagree with this article. However, if we continue to ignore the serious social issues that are at the root of the problem no amount of ‘big stick’ enforcement will achieve the desired outcome.
I totally agree.
I moved here 30 year ago and a major attraction was the safety and serenity of these islands.
My daughter recently asked me if I thought she and her family should move here and I warned her off.
We have a tiny number of hardened career criminals who exploit the lack of people’s right and ability to defend themselves.
Pretty easy to be brave when you are masked and holding a loaded gun and are well aware that your victim cannot.
The police cannot be everywhere but more could be done to track down the criminals with DNA testing of trace evidence left at crime scenes for example.
Expensive yes, but cheaper by far than losing one of the main pillars of our economy.
Understanding what Mack is saying as well, however the Social Issues should not be the concern of the RCIPS. Fighting crime should be, and from what I see this is something they are not doing nor are they equipped to do, there seems to be a definite pattern with them of wait till the crime has been committed and then start an investigation. No different than mount trashmore this will be allowed to escalate until it is too far gone to deal with on site. Right now the criminals in Cayman are better armed and equipped to commit crime then the RCIPS is to fight crime. That is the problem, they have no fear of the police or the Cayman justice system. Cayman is still safer that most islands but by far not the safe haven it used to be and I don’t blame social issues for that I blame the police. Being broke and living in poverty is no excuse nor does it justify criminal activity.There are plenty of people in poverty who are law abiding citizen and don’t go around robbing and stealing. They take whatever job is available to feed their family when times get hard some even take two. The people robbing and stealing aren’t these types of people, they would rather steal than take a low paying job. How can someone be to proud to take a job that doesn’t pay much but be OK with breaking into someones house or sticking up and old lady. The solution is to do what it takes to stamp out crime, the RCIPS is in a war on crime to protect the Cayman islands image of safety and they are losing the battle.
A perfect case-in-point is the outcome of the actions of the Commissioner of Police in foiling an armed robbery, in which the perpetrators were knocked down and run over by his vehicle…and…
The CoP faced an investigation for ‘excessive use of force’ ????!!!!
If he had been armed, or any of the armed RCIPS officers had been passing that day and encountered these armed robbers escaping from this jewelry store, would they have not been responsible for engaging them as armed criminals ?
Supposed these criminals had been shot by the CoP or any of his officers…would they have been charged for murder or attempted murder ?
There is no more glaring example of what is entirely wrong with the law in regards to security and use-of-force than this incident.
The worrying issue is that the CoP was investigated for ‘excessive-use-of-force, as if his authority does not allow him the use of force in enforcement of the law in the first place.
Police officers are usually investigated for a justified use of force that their duties and authority already supposedly allows them in required circumstances.
If the police officers of the Cayman Islands cannot use justified force in necessary circumstances, then consider how bad and threatening the situation is for the average civilian citizen ?
Its no wonder the criminals are having a field day and laughing all the way to the bank !
My opinion is that the system needs a reset on how to deal with the criminals. My home was burglarized while I was away; they took pretty much what they want, laptops, tools, jewelry and my Motorbike. A few weeks ago Police caught a man with my Bike in WB road, police had to chased him down because he try to run. To cut the story short the man was release the next day. I contacted the Police for further information regarding the Robbery at my home back in may since the bike was stolen in the robbery, and they replied was the man is out and nothing else has been done. Now can anybody tell if this is the way that we will be protected from these thugs? I am very disappointed the way Police or the System handle these matters, because as the Police Officers continue saying that’s how the system works; tell you what it’s not working at all.
Ricardo makes an excellent point, I can see future headlines reading like this.
Armed robber shot by police while running out of the bank firing shots at police. Police officers face charges for discharging firearms and aggravated assault on Bank Robber.
North Side man recovering for hand injury he got while trying to break into private home. Home owner changed with assault for slamming the window down on his finger and now faces civil suite for pain and suffering caused to the burglar.
Man attacks women with machete, women charged with attempted murder by drowning after throwing water in his face to escape.
While these stories may be exaggerated they are to make a point. Basically what we are being asked to do when faced with a criminal act is lay down and let them do whatever they please, to do anything else is against the law and these guys are clearly aware of this. The next thing you will see is crooks walking into your home or place of business threatening to call the police if you don’t turn over the money.
As a tourist who has been to Cayman 4 times, we will not be returning for two reasons. One is the conditions at the airport and the second is we had an attempted break-in one night about 12:30 am. We were staying at a very nice place in the Rum Point area. Thank goodness we were not asleep yet and scared the man dressed in all black away.