Marine Unit ship-shape after navy training
(CNS Video): Taxpayers can expect even more from the RCIPS Marine Unit in the coming months after ten local officers spent this month honing their skills with experts from the Royal Navy’s International Maritime Training Team. CNS intern Jaida Alexander finds out what the training will mean for local border protection by an increasingly important unit to local policing.
The first line of defence against smugglers bringing in illegal firearms and drugs, the unit also plays a key role in search and rescue operations at sea. The training will enhance navigation and small craft operating skills of local officers, as well as develop and improve their knowledge and application of navigation and advanced small craft handling.
CNS Intern Jaida Alexander
The officers have been learning an array of tactics, techniques and procedures that will enhance their operational effectiveness and the critical skills required to improve engineering and maintenance on the costly resources.
The project has been coordinated between the RCIPS and UK’s Defence Section in Kingston, Jamaica, and has been jointly funded by the UK’s Conflict, Security & Stability Fund and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Overseas Territory Policing Fund.
The IMTT provides a link between individual training establishments and overseas customer countries, primarily through the UK Defence liaison system, and consists of five highly operationally experienced personnel of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. With a combined 137 years of service, they have conducted training globally including in the Caribbean, West Africa and the Far East.
Did the CIG pay for this training or was it yet more financial support from the UK?
It’s UK funded.
Excellent job Jaida! #Iamjohngray
Hopefully less Government patrol boats ending up on the reef.
And your evidence is what?
Read the Compass archives.
Nope, cannot find anything
Well it was reported in the Compass, I believe two boats have been written off. Why don’t you call the Marine unit and ask them?.
Treason!
Yep. last time I checked the video on CNS, all the boats were there. None damaged let alone written off. Have you been on the wacky backy?
Marine unit don’t make me laugh! yes a unit fill up with individuals who either cant swim or navigate a vessel properly yes 3:17pm I am glad to see a token Caymanian in the marine unit too. It is a terrible shame knowing our maritime heritage that we have people incharge from a destination whence all drugs and guns arrive here from, yet we see very little in the way of seizures or operations to intercept these drug shipments coming in and stolen goods going out. This was not the case in the not too distance past the only dynamic that has changed are those who have now been place incharge by our UK masters.
With all your seafaring skills why aren’t you the head of it? Please apply, and show up for the interview too!
From recent reports, it appears the maritime heritage is being put to good use on the Jamaica run. Just saying…..
I’m glad to see another caymanian face reporting the news in Cayman. Congratulations to Jaida Alexander
“Taxpayers” ??????
Border protection should start in our home harbors and expand outwards. There are occupied and provisioning sailing craft in Gov Harbour and Mitchell’s Creek anchoring without masthead illumination obviously in the commission of concealing themselves to some end. We need to confirm these vessels and occupants have cleared via the port, and if not why – at minimum, get them to fix their lights – lock down all this sneaky stuff from our harbors and outwards. Ditto the “fishing” tournaments. They should not feel they are entitled to bypass Customs and Immigration as many have done for decades. It is really no wonder we have criminals arriving and departing at will with all of these holes in the net.
This is GREAT!
Lets see how much of a difference this extensive training will make when the next boat goes missing, a vessel is in distress and needs assistance, there is a report of a stolen boat or persons operating a boat recklessly and dangerously. Hopefully they will have the training now to handle all of the search and rescue situations and vessels in distress reports on their and not have to rely on members of the public to do the job and then they come in and make it seem like they did the job themselves.
It really is a shame that an island with such a history of seamanship and maritime knowledge has a marine unit that is almost totally useless and incompetent. Although, when a group is led by someone that has no previous knowledge or experience in the field he is the leader off and other persons are there only to care for their own interest, how can we expect to see anything but failure and be embarrassed.
I will definitely be watching closely and keeping track of how many times the unit responds to the various reports they are called for compared to how many times they call on the public to to the job for them. As for the drug seizures, it would be good to tally how many drug boats were caught and compare it to the number of “known” drug boats that made it thru; the score of that test will reflect the saying “the wolf is in the hen house”
Good luck boys, don’t let 15knt winds and 3′ seas keep you inside the sound, oh, and don’t worry about ever having to come and look for me or save me, I’ll just call someone in the public to help me, basically just saving you a phone call because that’s mostly what you do anyway.
Really! Firstly it is right that anyone in distress gets the help they need the quickest, that’s what we boat owners do. Or let’s wait for the Marine guys to arrive and ignore the fact someone nearby can help. When there is no one else, or it’s rough, you will find the Marine Unit get out. Your comments generally are offensive to people that do risk their lives to at times go places you armchair experts would not, and at times you are in bed. You have NO idea, and this is from someone who respects what they do. Always negative, your sarcasm will probably be ignored, especially when it is you who needs rescue and none of your friends can be bothered to answer their phones. Give them a break.
A good time to remind some of our misguided boaters that the Marine Unit is NOT a guaranteed free to all salvage service, to be taken for granted, especially by persons who do not maintain their vessels adequately. When souls are at risk call 911, when you break down, with no lives in danger, or run out of fuel, and need a tow home, call a towing service!
NICE ONE! Good point 🙂
Tell it to the Cubans who drowned off South Sound??? Who had to depend on Surfers to get rescued because somebody didn’t like the big waves they saw! You sound like a broken record of excuses.
@ 9:05 am, judging from your post it seems like you need to be rescued right now; I hope that you get rescued real soon.However it is not the Marine Unit that you need, but another unit starting with the letter M.