Acting on police advice, the Cayman Islands Football Association has suspended matches at both the Ed Bush and Haig Bodden stadiums.
CIFA confirmed in a statement to the Cayman Compass that in meetings with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service in the wake of the shooting at Ed Bush on 25 Feb., the police suggested not holding any games at the two locations until further notice.
“It was recommended by the authorities to not use the Ed Bush Stadium and Bodden Town Field for official matches due to safety reasons,” according to the statement.
“As the investigations are still ongoing, the CIFA is working closely with the Cayman Islands Government and the RCIPS to ensure the safety of our football activities.”
Since the shooting, Sports Minister Isaac Rankine said, he had reached out to Police Commissioner Kurt Walton, and the decision was made to intensify police presence at sporting events. This increased presence was evident at the recent CARIFTA trials at Truman Bodden Sports Complex, with police officers and security personnel located in and around the stadium.
Last week, the association’s president Alfredo Whittaker, in an interview with the Compass, said CIFA will be implementing security measures at games, including the use of hand-held metal detectors, with every fan subjected to a ‘pat down’ before entering the stadium.
In addition, he noted, “it’s a little dark” at both stadiums due to inadequate lighting.
CIFA has set a tentative restart to the football season for Wednesday, 13 March, with the new schedule of fixtures to be released soon.
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