Cayman Islands Authorities Earmark $11 Million to Tackle Crime

Cayman Islands Authorities Earmark $11 Million to Tackle Crime
By Joe Shooman

The Cayman Islands government is putting around $11 million into halting the surge in violent crime that has plagued Grand Cayman.

Premier McKeeva Bush told a specially-convened meeting at the Westin that an additional $4.6 million had been given to the police. This, he said, added to a $2 million CCTV system, more than $3 million for the customs scanner and $500,000 to potentially remove the prison antenna, came to about $11 million. He said it was everybody’s business and it was regrettable this money was not spent on education and social programs.

The additional cash, added Commissioner David Baines, would enable the police to create 50 additional posts. In the past, a ‘hot spot’ team has responded to increasing demand for officers in certain parts of Cayman when incidents occur. However, the only way to respond to increasing demand has been to pull resources from elsewhere, including the neighborhood patrols, in order to staff major investigations.

The staff increase would give the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service a team ‘as of right’, he said. While no individual officer has all skill sets, the areas of strategic objectives breakdown into armed presence, proactive investigative and surveillance and an operational support group, which controls the ground.

This permanent group would create a foundation at every level that could deal with burglars, armed robbery and gang violence. The neighborhood patrols would also be able to be a visible reassurance and preventive measure.

“We are intending to stabilize the force and maintain our presence,” said the Commissioner. Officers capable of bearing arms will also be increased from 80 to 100.