Premier commits to 60% cut in gun smuggling
Alden McLaughlin at the press meeting following the launch of the PPM manifesto
(CNS): The premier has committed to investing “whatever it takes” into police resources and the creation of a national coast-guard to fight the rising gun crime in the Cayman Islands. Alden McLaughlin has said that if the Progressives are returned to office in two weeks time, one of the priorities for their second term will be to reduce the number of weapons making their way onto the islands by sea by 60%.
Speaking at a press meeting following the launch the PPM’s manifesto, McLaughlin, who has served as home affairs minister during this administration, was not able to say how much investment he believes would be required or why the government has committed to that figure. He said he was still waiting to see the police commissioner’s final plan to deal with and improve the police service, which would set out the costs and goals.
But the premier said that regardless of the costs, it was a priority for his next administration to address crime. He said, “We have to strengthen our border control.”
McLaughlin said that because most of the illegal weapons coming into the islands are coming by sea from Jamaica, Honduras and other neighbouring jurisdictions, this is where the focus would be. He said he had spent a good deal of time talking with Police Commissioner Derek Byrne about creating a dedicated national coastguard to focus on interdiction, investing in the necessary equipment, including night vision capabilities for the helicopter, better technology and new boats, if necessary.
“It is ambitious but it is something that is doable,” he said, adding that the PPM was committed to improving border control. It is hoped that this will reduce the crime which is being fuelled by the illegal gun importation.”
After four years spent stabilising public finances and building the economy, the PPM appears to be heading for a spending term over the next four years, and investing in anti-crime measures is high on the agenda.
The party leader said finding the resources to tackle the “significant” and increasing gun crime was “absolutely critical”, as he gave an undertaking to allocate whatever was needed. He spoke about taking “radical steps” to cut the number of guns coming in, which would in turn cut crime. But without the resources the police cannot tackle this problem, he noted.
McLaughlin said government was about priorities and this was one of the top seven for government. He said they would ensure that the funding needed would be made available, even if it mean taking resources from elsewhere, though he did not indicate the need for increasing fees.
“Safety and security must be one of the most significant issue for any administration, otherwise all the rest of it is for nought,” he added.
Category: 2017 General Elections, Crime, Crime Prevention, Elections, Politics
There is a difference between gun smuggling, especially when they want to use the guns for bad purposes and the innocent tourist or foreigner who is moving here and brings a gun with them, unknowing of our laws.
We should differentiate between the two. Let’s not scare off the tourists and hurt our economy.
It is good that the Premier has this as a goal. Can he be specific on how he will guarantee this? Will they fudge /( lie) the crime statistics to make it appear as if they have achieved this or what realistic action will he take to ensure its success?
When Alden says his government will do “whatever it takes”, what he really means is they will do whatever it takes to get re-elected. Alden, who is all of a sudden interested in gun crime has never asked the Governor to hold a National Security Council meeting on his watch as premier even though the constitution gives him that power. Does he think we are all stupid?
Crime is like a cancer. You can’t fight it 60% period. It’s a 100% effort or it’s for nothing.
Not your finest comment, Premier…
McLaughlin is a self righteous knob. His every public utterance confirms it
Yes Alden and exactly how do you expect to achieve that lofty goal Mr Premier with those hired to police our little island incharge who’s brethrens are those responsible for smuggling all the guns and drugs Good luck wid dat ya hear! what an @$$#0!&, call ya friends in the FCO Mr Premier and ask dem wha gwann Sah. Seee if you get a reply Oh dont forget the Govt Cheque because the consultation is never free, but you know that too Eh Alden? Like i said what an A$$.
What did you just say?
He/she just said to hire law enforcement from some other Country than Jamaica!
I’ll toast to that.
Aaaah12:50pm but look who is incharge, those that have come here to reflect the diversity of the community so they say.It has rapidly declined under their stewardship has it not.Yes and we keep getting worse because we keep making the same mistakes . When you bring colonial mentality and mix it up with third world corruption failure is the only option you unfortunately are left with.Why is it that the UK dismantled or allowed a viable and effective RCIPS to be decimated by their little lackeys who then hired those who’s country they know have very effective and very dangerous drugs and gun smuggling criminal gangs to come here to Police them when they cant even do that back home. Then we sit and wonder why crime is increasing which causes us to spend more and more money on it, which gets me back to who’s incharge and is deriving huge benefit from this situation. Crime is a great tool to control a small population is it??????
Please post my very, very good election promises in your Viewpoint Section. It will receive an amazing response. Believe me.
Respectfully,
Arnold Victorious
My Dear Fellow Caymanians,
After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to announce my candidacy for the Presidency of the Cayman Islands. Though I am not born and/or bred of the soil, I will try my hardest to bring about changes of the like that you have never ever seen before. These changes will be very, very, very good for you. They will be amazing. Believe me. Believe me.
The first of these changes is to build a wall around West Bay. This wall will be so high and so good that President Trump will want to enlist me for his. Believe me, it’s going to be the best wall that you have ever seen. We don’t need West Bay, believe me. A friend called me last night and said, “Arnold, Arnold, we need to do something about West Bay.” And I said to my friend, “Believe me, I will”. So that is what we are going to do. We are going to build a wall around West Bay like no other wall has ever been built. And when the West Bayers will want to come over to our Island, we will charge them very, very , very much money. Lots and lots and lots of money. Gadzillion of dollars. Gadzillion. Believe me.
The second thing we are going to do, is we are going to do away with these career politicians. Another very rich friend of mine, very, very rich fellow, with lots of gadzillions of dollars, told me, “Arnold, we have to get rid of these career politicians”. Believe me folks, they’ve done nothing but stink this place up. It stinks so high up that God himself called me and said, “Arnold, you have to stop the stink”. I’m going to stop it, believe me. McCuba, I’m gonna ship him right back there to Jamaica. Yes, Jamaican Man. You heard me. He has very many, lots of friends in Jamaica, and believe me, dozens of people have called me to say that they want their McCuba back.
Alden, now Alden we may keep him around. He has committed to a 60% cut in gun smuggling. That’s mucho, very, very, very good. He will make a very, mucho, good, little Commandante. Believe me, it will be good. He hasn’t stopped one gun in the past 4 years, but he has not committed to a very, very large cut of 60% in gun imports. That is one more than 50%. A very good thing. He is not a really smart person, but believe me, when I set his backside to the grill, he will smarten up. Believe me. His butt will hurt so bad he will have no choice but to cut things down by 60%. We don’t know what the starting number is, but that doesn’t matter, because we will make sure he achieves 60%, because that is very good. Very, very good. I have heard from hundreds of people who wanted to know why 60% and not 100%… Sixty percent sounds better than 100%. It sounds very good. Just like when you say very, very good instead of just very good. Sixty percent sounds good, believe me. Even when It’s pulled out of thin air. Believe me.
Now I’m not so sure what to do about that Balbony guy. He is ready for the pasture, but he has God on his side. At least he claims that he does. He is a very, very, smart bible reader, believe me, but not so gifted in other areas. He says that God hates the Gays. Believe me, that’s what he says. He says that Dem Gays are fornicationing all over the Island and that some of them have to jump back into their closets or them ships. I’ve seen them movies about Gays and their closets and they have lots of them, believe me. I think Balbony wants one of them closets for his own home, a nice big one before he retires, a very, very nice one. Believe me, I don’t know what to do about him. Believe me. Or that Ezzard. I’d ship him back too but who the heck would take him? Beside, he’s so much good entertainment, so fun, so very, very, very fun. I don’t know what we would do without him. I don’t know, but that’s what people are telling me. Lots and lots of people, believe me.
Look, believe me, it’s going to be amazing. The stink will finally stop. At least the stink that comes from the politicians’ backsides. It’s the others stink we will also have to stop. Believe me, it will be good. I will make a mountain out of it and offer free skiing to the tourists. It will be the best obstacle skiing that they’ve ever done their whole lives. It will be amazing. Believe me. Now when they buy those “I survived the Cayman Islands” t-shirts, it won’t be because they dodged Foster’s bullets, or Alden’s monotonous speeches, or his overenthusiastic motorcycle supporters, but a ski slope that nobody has ever, ever seen before. Believe me, I will build it with a jump right to the dock that Alden has promised a thousand years before. I have built lots of beautiful and amazing things, believe me. My friend who I’ve worked with in GT, believe me, called me to say that I promised to… Well, she said, “Arnold Victorious, you promised to Make Cayman Great Again!” And I said to her, “It’s going to be Amazing, believe me”.
Vote Arnold Victorious, for an Amazing, Very, Very, Very Good Experience. Believe me!!!
Better invest whatever it takes to bring the CCTV government spent millions on to par. What good is surveillance if it doesn’t work properly.
The problem is in most Westernized “civilisations” that the political system is a massive failure for the voters.
There really is nothing to vote for. Every 4 years, these people promise us change and every time, nothing really changes, unless you would classify an increase in the cost of living as a worthwhile change.
Special interests seem to flourish, politicians get richer and the hard-working middle class get squeezed tighter and tighter.
I for one will not be voting. Alden McLaughlin and McKeeva Bush have presided over the worst period in this fledgling nation’s history and quite frankly, they do not deserve any damned respect and certainly no votes. If you vote for them, you would be one or more of the following:-
1. Family.
2. Friend with benefit.
3. Special Interest.
4. Drunk
5. All of the above (haha)
In fact, when I vote, I will put on my form, NOTB. None of these b*****ds.
Over the last 4 years, not a single politician even checked in on us to ask us how we are doing. Now they are calling, coming by and making empty promises.
We donate our time and resources to special needs and assist the schools with job placements and yet not one of these pompous, preening, presumptuous prima donnas has ever stopped by to offer a word of thanks or support.
Screw you all, politicians.
My vote is this. NONE OF THE ABOVE!
We can’t even guard our own “secured evidence lockups”, on land, inside our staffed police perimeters. Tens of millions in drugs and other thefts were allowed to walk in and out unchallenged with heavy duffels without anyone seeing anything, no cameras working, and no leads! Poof! That has been the organized state of crime-fighting competency under the PPM/CDP(UDP).
Mr nightmare,oh sorry I mean premier,you have lost 60 % of you brain,time to go on the farm in East end, banished.
He should commit to 100%. Maybe he would end up with 60%
Zero Tolerance. Everyone should be allowed to “bear Arms”. criminals wont be so brazen if they know the other person might have the same!
10.46, you really want some of the less intelligent idiots with attitude issues or possibly mental issue that you meet every day to be carrying guns? Good luck with that.
Everyone should bear arms…Dont be an idiot.
Whoa cowboy, if you really want a gun, get one, but shut yer dang pie-hole about arming the whole island. That’s just a flat out bad idea.
Do we have statistics on the number of guns currently smuggled? Some way to judge this promise?
10.37, made my day. If guns are smuggled, they are by definition below the radar, clandestine, not talked about or counted. And you want stats. Happy Friday.
sorry for anyone that attacks this island with the idea that we dont have weapons
How about tightening up the law and the sentencing so that criminals with gun cannot invent a cock and bull sob story to get acquitted or a sentence below the 10 years supposed minimum? And do stop letting arrogant American tourists off when they take their killing tools with them.
Need to get rid of 60% of the expatriates here in Cayman
Yes, because that would work so well for you, and precisely why it wont happen. Unless, that is, that you manage to vote in some real idiots. I would not put that beyond your capabilities.
There are >24,000 work permits (for jobs Caymanians won’t or can’t do), 60% is 14,400 jobs – to be filled by whom exactly? The 1400 deadbeats that can’t or won’t find legitimate vocation? Time for this boring xenophobic nonsense to stop.
might lower island IQ
Do you realize that when you vilify permit holders, you actually disparage the Caymanian business owners who prudently examined their local labour options and paid extra to bring someone in? Permit holdings don’t just magically arrive here looking for work – they are actively recruited by Caymanian business owners at great time and expense because there are no better options. I do agree that it would be ideal if more Caymanians were prepared to competently assume better jobs, it just isn’t the case, and deriding that fact is both self-limiting and polarizing.
Alot of business now are owned by expats and they are hiring expats
Is that what your tribal leader told you? You might want to start looking for the truth on your own.
Well good for them! I for one, am happy to see people come here and do well. On the other hand, I’m an expat so I’ll just be quiet now.
Need to educate stupid people like you.
Yes Mr ClickBait. RaceBaiter
What freedoms are you selling out and what will it cost $$$ Caymanians Alden. Caymanianns these guys have had 4 years and now they come here at the eve of elections to now once again to sellout the rest of Cayman to their UK masters.Please vote these piece if $#!@ out before we end up living on the sea in stilt huts. Becardeful Cayman or freedoms are being offered for sale to make Cayman safe for Alden and his friends. More expensive toys and foreign nationals to fleece these islands. VOTE for anyone else but the PPM on may 24th 2o17
6.57- I am sure there is a thought in there somewhere, probably backed up by fact? Please just give me a clue where it is?
Lol Ok 6.57am here we go, let’s leave. PPM out of the equation. That leaves with the following choices for Premier (he’s the one that forms the Government by choosing Cabinet members) McKeeva who has 32years in the LA most of them as part of the ruling party or team. In 2011 while Big Mac was in charge we had something like 5 murders in 7 weeks ( or was it 7 murders in 5 weeks… Not a good choice. Then there’s. Arden leader of the Independents, who has 16 years in the house; gun crime has certainly increased during his time. In fact only West Bay and George Town rank ahead of East End in murders during that time. Then there’s Elio as leader of the T-Party who was part of Mac’s team in 2011 and who allegedly has a hot temper.. Not a smart choice. Of the others we will have to also rule out Tony and Al as PPM since they were both part of the current PPM until just over a year ago. Eugene, Mike, John – John, were all part of the failed UDP Ruling party of 2009-2013 when murders surged ; Teresa, Pearlina, Jonathon, Chris were supporters or candidates of that same UDP Administration.
Therefore taking your suggestion of supporting anyone other than PPM will leave us in a very much worse situation.
Stupid and racist. A terrible combination.
Please, please, please, let anybody with status run for office. Please.
We can’t. We need to amend the Constitution. There are lifetime Cayman-raised, as well as business leaders who have contributed for decades that are ineligible, sadly. They want to help – many would do it for free.
An ECHR challenge would clearly strike down the current fetters on political rights for status holders. Look at the New Caledonia case.
Nobody does it for free. Nobody!
True,true.
Many right thinking Caymanians appreciate what the genuine expat community contributes to our country. However, even IF it was an option to run, most status holders would not be willing to give up their dual nationality to run and would always have that allegiance to another power. If you are honest and fair that would create some inherent risks, whether real or perceived.
The British ones wouldn’t have too…
11.20pm Why? So that they help Cayman become like some of the places that they are running from?
So someone with a bigger vision than the inside of a cat boat or rear end of a lawnmower, can pilot this country into the future. Lawn boys are as fine a people as anyone, but the quality of their governance has been shown to be poor and laughable at best.
Hell no.
Aw come on. Give it a try. You may like it.
Dont vote. Stay home.
They could have done thus 4 years ago.
Alden thanks you for your vote.
He just noticed that there was a problem with illegal firearms? Where has he been?
Oh; I know he cant tell us and wouldn’t want us to know where he’s been – right Alden?
Remember the Bob Marley song “Small axe”? Remember? Remember? We know.
Give us a clue,Rasta.
Lets just say people dont go to church from 12 midnight til 200am so if you see them parked in the church parking lot you know they not somewhere praying.
Well good luck finding a local candidate that doesn’t hide their car in the bushes, or their rental on the back side of the casino.
” No Woman No Guns, No Woman no cry”
Rasta,are you talking about the jaw breaker.
It’s 2017. Are lying politicians still relevant?
Why 60%? Seems odd, why not 59.8%? Why do 60% of the job? Hello, I am candidate ‘x’ I will stop 60% of the crime, the other 40%…I down with that.
It is called being realistic 7.40
We need a 60% reduction in bullshit.
Gotta be one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. We know there are 10 guns coming in, but we will try to get 6 of them is what he is saying.
6.59 No dum dum that is not what he is saying. What he is saying is saying is that in a dream world 100% or perfection can always be achieved, but in the real world he believes 60% is more reachable. Of course had he said 100% he would have been mocked for being a dreamer.
No, I think you’re wrong. If he had said 100% he would have looked confident. Of course he would have needed to say it 3 or 4 years ago…
Looked confident???????????? If he was confident about anything, he would be running in Georgetown Central! Nuf said.
No double dum dum, this is a 2 x 4 iddly piddly island, with a population of smalltown USA, 100% is absolutely possible.
Alden has failed in 4 years to fully staff the police, JMU, fire service and prison. Four years. Consider that against the probability of creating an unfunded, unequipped, untrained coast guard. More pre-election nebulous promise-making to an unverifiable performance standard – what a BS artist!
If a U.S. forces patrol boat was able to ‘give lead ‘ to a few boat thieves and otherwise illegals coming from the aforementioned countries, into Cayman waters illegally , that word out amongst them would slow them down at least 60 % .
Mr Premier it makes no sense of talking about cleaning up the crime and guns from the outside of the house, when the inside of the house stays dirty and corrupted . But we know it’s all big talk and promises for votes .
Absolutely. But most people are stupid and go vote anyways.
This is the root of the problem. This will not self fix. Better to just plan on it now and in the future. Thankfully these wanna be leaders seem to self destruct whenever they start to try and accomplish something. The best seem to be the ones who don’t do anything. But then again when you got little or no money doing nothing is the best thing you can do for your future.
To me it seems like a Caribbean mind-set is not good for looking down the road. Really not big on planning ahead. I still think you should let expats run for office.
I think that the Premier should stop and realize that what he has said, is that he is going to spend a big amount of money on the border , but he didn’t mention anything about changing any Laws that pertaining to what he is going to spend that big money on . I think that he would have been smarter if he had thought about the issues before he made that stupid speech.
Campaign manager get on it , you’re making a smart man look stupid when you let your Boss go out and say stuff like this .
8:41am. What would be the comment if he said, there is no need for border patrol, guns and drugs control? You people would find fault if Christ came down and said what he would do. Just a set of find fault people, with no solutions. Crabs in a bucket. Get KeKes take on it. Crime is rampant in his district and what has he done about it.
Leave mac alone. He’s been a scheming and it’s tuckered him out.
Hello, not from your island, just a visitor here (who’s paying attention). This “press release marketing statement” might be the silliest thing yet from a political figure seeking reelection.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, I beg of CNS to push the envelope on this one. Seriously. That’s babble on babble right here. That’s like saying all non-scuba divers shall be responsible for reducing the lionfish population by 60% themselves..for good.
A delusional stategey before even considering plausible tactics-
Yeah, we know. Sorry about that, but every 4 years people actually vote for these delusional sleazeballs. Does it happen where you come from, too?
Yes
5.57pm US or UK? Trump or May? Can I hear ‘really delusional’
That’s what we can expect from this bunch of “over qualified”, over educated”, selfpraising bunch – give me Kenneth anytime with his simple but caring mind….at least as the PPM leader Kurt TIbbetts and Alden said four year he was the most caring ( I could say the only one who cared for the poor or simple people), they had on their platform. Cayman on May 24 remember to choose people who “CARE” and do not look down on you from where you come from, your education standard or whatever unfortunate circumstances life has left you. You deserve the same respect as the next person. PPM members needs to show some respect, remember YOU ALL maybe richest and the most educated party but now you need my poor, uneducated, black VOTE.
Simple but caring… so caring he decided to share his coke with a young lady – for a small fee of course.
Should be zero tolerance on guns, gangs and illegal motorbikes/cars
…and bullshitting candidates
Why Mr. Premier is it only now at election time are you telling us this? What happened for the four years that you were running the country?
Oh Mr. Premier I think you need some time off, like be removed from office and lets get us some one else in there to get things done.
Plus the zombie take over in the morning on the roads,especially south sound
What about the DUMP??
It must be a #1 priority! The only thing of real value we have is our health. When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.
Have you been totally asleep?
5.09pm Haven’t you heard the dump situation is being dealt with under tbeir new Solid Waste Management. Plan. This is incorporating recycling, reusing, and reducing which should drastically reduce the amount of solid waste going into the dump. There will be a waste to energy component also. The hill of tires is being reduced by shredding which will cresate additional space for the project. Additionally land has been bought to increase the size of property available for the Solid Waste Plan. The existing landfill will be remediated. Granted they could have done a better publicity job for this but u derway folks. Good news.
And the evidence for the recycling plan, or the waste to energy, or the physical remediation? Just because someone says they have an aspiration and a feasibility study is not the same as actually doing anything – indeed, studies can be used as a means to defer actually doing anything. The tire shredding I will give them – because there is hard evidence of it actually happening. The rest is unicorns until we actually see something happen.
I want to smoke what he is smoking.
You are so right, how in Gods creation can this mad man committ to 60% reduction in any crime let alone gun crime. I have listen to all sorts during this season but this takes the cake. Alden PLEASE STOP this sort of campaign I beg you. You are sounding like an educated fool.
60% the equivalent of a D grade, that’s Progressive guys! Vote PPM cause we’ve got 99 problems and Alden is the sulution for 60%. Give me a P give me a rogres can’t spell the rest cause Alden only allowed 60% of the letters.
Which would you prefer ?
(1) Interdict about half of our illegal guns and drugs at our borders or (2) have McKeeva become Premier and increase able bodied Caymanians by 50% into Welfare……for more political votes.
I prefer the possibly of achieving number 1 because every corner I turn in West Bay I’m seeing number 2 being well established.
Remember 60% of our NAU budget comes directly to West Bay and of the 29 Murders in the Cayman Islands over the past 10 years, 20 were committed in West Bay.
Can anyone explain to me why McKeeva and Capt Whogene should not be booted out of West Bay ?? It’s a shame and a disgrace what is happening in our district.
It’s like we are living on the west side of Chicago or in the middle of Detroit.
Fellow Caymanians………please help us rid West Bay of our career politicians on May 24th 2017 !!
@3:59pm, Where did you get those stats from???? Seriously, WB has the highest amount funds from NAU???!!! That is absurd.
Living in WB I get the feeling that is where the NAU sends them all…to add to the pile….we get all the down and out on luck….Think Daddy Dart has a plan for the Peninsula…..rents are already rising fast in the West and its only a short amount of time…until the new hotel is built and WB rents are higher still and the NAU will have no choice….when landlords refuse and your prestine district becomes the new dumping ground…lol he gonna move the dump alright……
I would prefer that all politicians were locked up for their crimes.
3:59pm Past time for change in West Bay. Political incompetence says it all.
What a bunch of crap!
Pretty good election advertising Al but not pretty good enough. How about 90 to 100 percent?
This man is a pompous blow bag and only now talks what he will do if he gets back the POWER!
What about the dump?
There is no need to create another expensive department such as the Coast Guard. Just employ and train the Police and Customs better . Man the dam thing with Police/Fire/Immigration & Customs officers . That way you have it all covered
The PPM have had four years to fully staff the JMU. We discovered very accidentally and tragically last year that the JMU only have 14 people out of a department budgeted for 37. PPM allowed this critical department to run 23 people short for four years. That showcases the level of concern and state of urgency the PPM have had for our border control and security. They staffed it at 37%, with unsuitable training and in mostly broken and/or hazardous equipment.
http://cnslibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/Review-of-the-Royal-Cayman-Islands-Police-Service-response-to-reports-of-missing-persons-at-sea-6-March-2016.pdf
And 6.52 just how many more years has McKeeva had? Mac has been in the LA twice as long as Alden and a part of the ruling team or party for most of those 32 years why hasn’t he done all this. Remember the PPM had to get us out of a huge hole financially which used upost of their energy and resources.
Ahhh, but Mac is a hella lot richer than when he started.
Who the hell said anything about Mac? The comment clearly only mentioned PPM. That’s Cayman’s problem, people cannot think past PPM or CDP (UDP).
I absolutely agree! We have a marine unit, we have boats! All they need to do is fix the boats and train more Caymanians how to drive these gofast boats. Maybe they need to build tall crows nests in some coastal areas across all three islands and have officers literally stand their and watch out for activity. AND also acquire state of the art radar equipment that can identify vessels approaching and then send out the helicopter (and police boat) to shine a big ole’ light on the criminals! Geez has noone in government watched a Hollywood war movie? All they need is to allocate funds, story done.
We need fixed-wing aircraft with proper detection tools – either our own or authorized loaners from existing agencies with the money, tools, and know-how to get it done.
We need a proper coast guard to interfere with the large amount of illegal border activity going on, and they need a ship or ships with really big cannon…
Years ago, back when the RCIPS meant business, the Cayman Protector patrol boat was equipped with an armored forward 0.50cal machine gun turret and snowflake and ganja leaf “kill markings” were painted on the either side of armored bridge. They’d shoot to kill and sank many boats. We didn’t have nearly the homicide, gun, gang, or drug problems we have now. Not even close.
Today we have barely an expression of sea-worthy response capability…poorly trained and over-loaded JMU guys that can’t exit their marked “home port” channel without crashing the boat and taking it out of service for weeks.
What we need a robust aerial surveillance package and some kind of armed tactical response. We’ve squandered the resources that we have to the point where this will have to be outsourced to existing agencies with the budget, skill and equipment to coordinate the effort.
Shoot to kill???? Do me a favor and come back into the real world and not the one in a fantasy parallel one.
12.45pm Please remember that Mac was a part of the ruling team that was given a chance to buy the DEA radar equipment that was housed near the Airport (the large white golf ball near the east end of the runway) and they turned it down because of the cost of staffing it.
Build the wall! Lol…
“it’s election time”
Cut importation of guns by 60%!
Build a wall around Cayman. Expats will pay for it.
Get Caymanians jobs building Cat boats
Get rid of solar power
And lastly
Make Cayman Great Again.
This should be the PPM message to us.
Mr Premier you’re out sir!
Make Miss Cayman great again.
It has been a while.
Seemed to work in the election in ‘the greatest country in the world’
At least he mentions this problem and brings it to light, a lot more than the “independents” and udp/cdp are promising.
You mean: at least he’s bullshitting – that’s what Party experience in Cayman equates to – the ability to fork your tongue.
what a joke. This is the time you trying deal with gun crime. Try so go sit down with your politricks. Just looking vote. where did this 60% come from? Are they just pulling random numbers out of a hat?
60% of what number ? How will he quantify the number of guns coming onto the island, and what about all the guns already here. One of the most ridiculous statements ever made as part of a pre-election PPM Manifesto.
Whatever number they find will be deemed to be 60% of the total number. Guaranteed success since no one really knows how many guns are coming in.
Commits to cut gun smuggling by 60%????? That’s very hopeful of him. That means the remaining 40% will be out to commit the same level of outlaw behavior.
You had the last 4yrs sir, why wait until now???
Prior needs to be given to the rise in crime and our social issues and fast before it permanently destroys our tourism industry.
This wasn’t their focus last term, they achieved most points in their previous manifesto. Also, isn’t this the police’s job anyway to cut it 100%? Can’t put the blame on Alden.
If it’s the Police job why is he committing to it???? Clearly the funding comes from the gov. Gov provides the money for resources. Clearly thats what Alden is committing to combat the gun crime, additional resources due to funding. If no additional resources is needed to achieve that, why hasn’t it been fixed before???
Reducing crime should be on the agenda, all year, every year. On every political manifesto.
Wake up!!!
Haven’t you listened to the candidates? PPM, CDP, Independent. They are all saying that the RCIPS requests for funding were supported by all. So blame them all not just the ones you dislike.
So how are the police to perform these duties without adequate staffing or funding? Simpleton!
https://www.caymancompass.com/2016/07/18/commissioner-we-do-not-need-more-police/
Let me know after bozo the clown.
If you think the present goverment has ‘achieved’ anything (other than a very welcome stabilisation of the public finances) I’ll have one of what you’re drinking.
Every single issue – education, the dump, cruise dock, immigration – they have all been kicked down the road.
The sad thing is, whether McKeeva or Alden gets back in, nothing will change
7:36am I doubt taxpayers money will be spent in CASINOS for security by ALDEN. Think about that. Different mentality.
Mentality is such a strong word.
This is the Alden show. His Cabinet decided the budget allocations for 4.5 years!
So we must believe you did not do it in the last 4 years because? you were busy?
Marco and him were busy patting each other on the back and wondering why nobody before noticed that when you ignore the laws and give a permit to anyone who can pay, revenues and surplus goes up.
He was too busy thinking about sorting out the dump.
LOL BUTTON.
Four years in office and election day is around the corner and you know commit to fighting gun importation???? Its been a problem for over a decade!!!
He just playing ‘Play It By Ear’ with the Cayman citizens. Whatever sounds good he will play…kinda like the mariachi band at Bananas/Ropers right Alden?
I am struggling with this commitment. 60% of what?, if we have no idea how many guns are being smuggled how will he know if he has achieved his objective.
Because he will have gotten 60 percent of the wotes.
Votes idiot. Stop the nonsense.
Vhy? Does it bother you?
It will be easy to cross-reference the efficacy of this fictional unfunded coast guard by looking at the annual transshipment stats journaled in the Gun Smugglers Almanac and of course public quarterly reports from the Tivoli Gardens Chamber of Commerce.
How about illegal biker and their crimes…seems all the biker bandits already “follow” Alden.
Why can’t we do something ON the streets before we do something IN the streets.
Ummh, obvious question comes to mind….Why did Mr. Premier not reduce it by even 1% these past 4 years??? Under his leadership gun crime and gun importation have risen dramatically. Just another Election Promise in Wonderland that he will make to get back in power. Once back in, he will forget about it as fast as the wind blows. Mr. Premier, look at Singapore if you want to cure your society’s ills. Start with flogging – that will put an end to 70% of the b.s.
Guns and or dope if you have the money someone will find what you want. The dope means lots of money, which means you need a gun, lots of money buys customs so that both are available. I wonder who gets a cut of the business of drugs and guns? No import duty,
Perhaps it’s You 6.18. Or maybe where you come from. I don’t know or believe that is happening in customs here.
2.06 Of course your figures are not supported by fact. The fact is that more shootings occured in 2011 than any other time. Also more guns have been recovered recently giving rise to the conclusion that more guns are out there than was previously believed. Maybe it’s just better policing rather than more guns.
Sounds good Mr. Premier; remember this too: we already have an extremely large number of unlicensed fire-arms on-island as well as other weaponry which need to be confiscated, the perpetrators charged followed by a conviction and then focus on the incoming threats.
Tip: criminals (the “smart” ones), don’t keep unlicensed fire-arms at there homes, they bury them near-by.
Some do, as proven in recent cases; but the really bad ones don’t. They know how the law works and so they work around it.
Therefore, police need to be watching all closely to catch them in the act.
Lastly, I think it’s common knowledge folks that most shipments land in EE; most guns, drugs and illegal immigrants land right up here in EE. This is where you need to start….EE.
1:56 pm They should prosecute those who feed and give them lodging. It is a known fact that EE is their man port if call.
And we need more local juries to find defendants guilty instead of letting them go bdcause of dislike of the police.It seems like some voters (jurors) say they want stiff penalties for gun crimes but refuse to convict someone when given a chance.
Sadly it took an election to get the Governments attention
and the attention will be gone May 25
He should build a great great wall, and make Jamaica pay for that wall
Lol
Mac would never agree.
Only 60%?
That’s progressive PPM 2017 For the people 60%!
59%
So does that mean the know how many guns are coming in? How will we know what 60% is?