Compromise sees police motion pass
MLA Arden McLean in the LA, 25 April 2016
(CNS): The Legislative Assembly members unanimously supported the second controversial police motion late Monday night when a compromise was made to amend it, removing reference to the parliament having no confidence in the whole of the police service and instead calling on the governor to undertake a review of the police administration, its operating methods and to introduce a formal succession plan to see a Caymanians head up the service within four years. Despite heavy criticism as the debate got underway, intervention from the speaker late into the evening followed by closed-door discussions led to a change in the motion and a cross-bench deal at around 10:45pm.
East End MLA Arden McLean accepted the suggested amendments to his motion to allow the government to support what had become an extremely contentious motion and end a long day in the LA, where both private members’ motions were amended to make them more palatable for government. However, both will put pressure on the governor’s office to take notice of the concerns from members about the management of the police service.
Although the motion retained its demand for a review of the management of the RCIPS and the way it is going about tackling crime, any hint of no confidence in the serving officers of the RCIPS was dismissed by both McLean and North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, who insisted they were very supportive of the police. But both men said they had been driven to bring the motion as they had tried endlessly to no avail to get the commissioner to listen to their appeal on behalf of their constituents for police in their districts.
Check back to CNS Tuesday for more from the LA’s special meeting.
I hope now that a compromise has been reached re the make up of the investigative team to look into the recent loss of 5 lives at sea the public will accept their findings and move on but even when all is said and done there will still be others that will cry foul and will continue to ask for more answers.
Thanks Peter. You are right. I thank the Deputy Governor for standing up for our brave men and women of the RCIPS.
He did not make excuses for their failures..but is right – a no confidence motion made no sense.
I hope the public understands that a large part of MLA Arden’s so-called concerns come from his chest-thumping runaway ego. Listen to him talk and he has contributed to everything under the sun. Police far from perfect but so are the MLAs, remember election soon coming. Arden tells us about the political party that you and Ezzard forming.
You would think that this was the legislature of a proper country and not a territory governed elsewhere.
There will come a day when one man and one woman will rise against thousands and inspire thousands more to become superior to the oppression of a great nation. We were fed these lies as children,stories of our country being greater in the past cementing a backwards way of life into our minds. Be they are on the horizion.They comes not only with a lamprophonic voice but a mighty fist and an astounding mind.He is our Brother and she is our sister.Prepare.
Prepare…..like dig a bunker prepare?
yes. dig it deep.
Right on Brother. Or Sister. We the Judean People’s Front stand with you firm against the Imperial apparatus.
We are red crow society. We live among you. At work places,in churches,gas stations,supermarkets,night clubs,hotels.Our children go to school with your children. Our leaders The woman in black and the man in white,are here to help. Let us unite.
Is this the rapture again? I have only just unpacked from the last one too be honest!
1:41, you need to give us some of what you are smoking.
Sheep.But it’s ok to be sheep aslong as you choose not the sheperd as your leader but the same wolves who have devoured your children. no matter the path you choose. we will all one day follow the buzzards.
I can’t under why the motion called for a no confidence in the entire RCIPS. But thank you MLA’S for removing that ridiculously claim from the motion.
I too must say that I am proud of how the opposition bench conducted themselves and came together for the good of the country. I am also happy that the government showed a willingness to work with them again for good of country. Ezzard and Arden keep up the good works. In closing I pray God’s blessings on the entire country.
A couple of years ago, when my car was broken into and a watch, some cash and a lap top computer were stolen, a police officer attended and took fingerprints from my car. I heard nothing further until the battery was stolen from the same car soon after. The same officer attended and took prints again. I heard nothing until I phoned the GT Police Station and eventually the officer returned to my home to report. I asked if it was the same perp both times. She said yes it is. I asked what was being done about it and she informed me that the perp had been told to stop stealing. This was said straight faced to my surprise.
No prosecution, no restitution and the thefts continued. One of my neighbours lost 2 batteries before he decided to remove the battery overnight.
Confident in the RCIPS??. Not this little expat.
That is a great and totally all to believable story
Yes. That’s what they do in the UK. Instead of making prompt arrests, they spend 45 minutes negotiating with the wrongdoer. Anything to manipulate the statistics downwards! Sad that it is here new.
How many arrests have you made in the UK lately?
Just want to say thank you to our MLAs for being willing to compromise for the good of the Cayman Islands.This is what we expect from them from day one,so hope it continues going forward; so much good can come of it, including encouraging their supporters to work together. After all a lot of voters take their cue from their favourite politician.
“Just want to say thank you to our MLAs for being willing to compromise for the good of the Cayman Islands.”
I don’t think there was much choice to be honest, the political and social stability is at an all time low.
The review is fair enough. The attempt by a mere local authority to fetter the Governor as to important hires for a British territory, a national decision, is entirely inappropriate.
There is a massive difference between a ‘sprain’ and a ‘fracture’.
Making a problem appear less severe than it actually is can cause more harm than good, as this influences the treatment we select.
Just like putting ‘Ben-gay’ on a fractured ankle won’t fix the break.
Oh no. Not the gay issue again.
There is a continued CYA process followed by the DPG and his boss. The amount of arrests is one thing, but the lack of conviction is the measuring stick. If police are not given adequate evidenc gathering training and are not versed in modern policing methods can we hold confidence in them or in their Supervisors and Managers. Policing is not a bottoms up management process, The tone has to be set from the top, if that na happen then we have the situations we experience on these Islands. A comprehensive review is needed but it should not just stop there, adequate professional Culturally adaptable and seasoned Management needs to b employed which will go a long ways in providing a higher and truly engaged police service.Train our people, they are more than capable.Selah.