Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has called on government to prioritise at-risk youth issues and gang disruptions on the heels of the 25 Feb. shooting at Ed Bush Stadium.
McTaggart’s comments come as Cayman marks one week since the shooting, in which seven people were injured after someone opened fire into a crowd of spectators attending a football match.
Two men were arrested this weekend in connection with the 25 Feb. shooting.
All seven people have now been released from medical care.
‘Words alone are not enough’
While McTaggart thanked Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly “for her strong stand” and assurances that the RCIPS will have the resources to solve this case, he said “words alone are not enough”.
“Action is absolutely needed. The government must prioritise the issues of at-risk youth and gang disruption and provide the RCIPS with the resources necessary to revitalise Community Policing and strengthen capacity. We will support the government when we see progress and remind them to act when we see none,” McTaggart said.
He said the shock that ripped through the islands was “palpable, understandable, and shared by us all,” when news of the shooting broke. He said before that shock diminishes, “we should reflect on what lessons we can draw”.
“I firmly believe that our Islands retain their essence of peace and safety,” McTaggart said.
“We mustn’t allow fear and the acts of a few to cloud our perception of the strength, beauty and resilience that define us and our country. However, we must not let these types of crimes worsen and become the norm in our society. The rise in gun crimes and gang activities demands our attention.”
Root causes must be deal with
He said the underlying causes of this violence must be tackled head-on, “as neglecting them could exacerbate these incidents. Similar to many countries, we grapple with social issues within our community that demand our attention”.
McTaggart said some youth encounter personal challenges that lead them “towards gangs and criminal paths”.
“We must show our young people the countless positive opportunities our islands offer. To achieve this, we must unite, focusing our strengths on confronting these varied social challenges head-on,” he said.
Law enforcement agencies, he said, must be equipped with the “latest technology and strategies to effectively combat gang activities”.
Collaboration among various government agencies is essential to crafting a holistic approach to tackling these complex social issues, he said.
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson indicated in Parliament last week that Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton was looking to fill vacancies in the Community Policing Department.
On Friday, Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly visited the Ed Bush facility along with Minister for Sports Isaac Rankine and other representatives from the Sports Ministry. Alfredo Whittaker, President of the Cayman Islands Football Association was also present at the walkthrough.
“During the visit ,[the] Premier assessed the scene of the incident while leading a broader conversation about the security of local sporting facilities,” a short government statement said in Saturday.
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