Coast guard to get new chopper
RCIPS helicopter
(CNS): Government is planning significant investment in the new Cayman Islands Coast Guard, it was revealed Monday when Premier Alden McLaughlin told the press that his administration is considering buying a new helicopter to help its mission. He said he hoped to “go further” than merely upgrading the existing RCIPS chopper to meet the needs of the coast guard because as well as intercepting drug, people and gun smugglers, it also is used in search and rescue operations. The Air Support Unit will remain with the RCIPS, officials revealed as they announced the leaders of both the coast guard and the Customs and Border Control Agency, but it will be called on to support the coast guard until that agency gets its own.
When CNS asked about investing in the police helicopter to modify it to assist with search and rescue, McLaughlin said, “I think we will do better than that; I think we will get another one.” He said more information about it would be forthcoming, as he pointed out how important the existing chopper has proved to be, despite the original criticisms about its purchase.
“My government was beaten to death at the time …about the huge expense,” he said, adding that it was now regarded as a great thing for crime prevention and search and rescue. “The helicopter has been used, and continues to be used, for a whole range of things which perhaps were never even contemplated when we purchased it. I see it being able to continue to function, and especially if we get another one to provide the necessary back-up, and some of the abilities that the current one lacks being a key tool in the full range of services that we are trying to provide.”
He said the UK had been very supportive of the police helicopter, especially after it was deployed to assist other British Overseas Territories during last year’s devastating hurricane season. “I hope we can continue to work with them as we seek to acquire another bird.”
Police Commissioner Derek Byrne explained that the Air Support Unit would remain under the direct control of the RCIPS because it also performs useful functions on land.
At the press briefing Byrne said the next step was to implement the strategic plan, which will see 42 people in the coast guard provide a 24/7 service to all three islands regarding interdiction, search and rescue, and enforcement of inland water rules. He described it as a wide brief and said the first year would involve reviewing the assets available to it, recruiting and undertaking training. He explained that the existing RCIPS Joint Marine Unit will exist for a short time in parallel with the coast guard until it is fit for purpose and able to deliver on its remit.
“There’s going to be transitional period,” he said. Noting the appointment of Robert Scotland as commander of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard and Leo Anglin as his lieutenant, he said they can now begin to plan and prepare the roll out of the agency.
Byrne said there would be incremental development over the coming months, and signaled the need for further investment. Although the coast guard will take over the JMU boats, which have all recently been upgraded, and its jet skis, he said the new leadership team would be reviewing the assets, and in conjunction with other agencies and the UK, would start to identify the unique needs of this new agency and build its capacity.
The Cayman Islands Coast Guard will be operationally independent, with its own budget and ring-fenced resources, but report to the police commissioner.
In a release issued Tuesday, Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller congratulated the new leaders of the coast guard and the Customs and Border Control Agency, wishing them every success, and offered the opposition’s full support.
“The creation of both agencies is an important milestone in our development, particularly at this time of increasing threats and risks to our Islands’ security,” he said. “We welcome, in particular, the introduction of the coast guard, with its multi-mission responsibility of protecting our borders from the incursion of drugs, guns, other contraband, and human trafficking, in leading critically needed search and rescue operations and in enforcing maritime regulations.”
Miller said he wanted to see government give the Cayman Islands Coast Guard control over its resources and budget.
See full press briefing on the coast guard and border control agency on CIGTV below
Category: Border Control, Coast Guard, Crime
Read the article people. The helicopter is to support the Coast Guard, not be be part of it. Slightly misleading headlines. Lets not break something that isn’t broken (unlike the marine police and most of their boats – they need fixing).
I hope they advertise for first class SAR pilots and winchmen overseas. Because unlike their bizarre recruitment of a deputy commander, (a position not advertised) and a commander with limited SAR and high seas experience, this can’t be fudged just to employ caymanians.
AW-139 please.
Who is responsible for the Cayman Islands Boarders? Is it the new Immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) Boarder agency or the Cayman Coast Guard which is under the Commissioner of Police?
The new coast Guard should be under the new ICE agency. The Police should only be respomsible for internal Policing matters and ICE for Boarder matters
For years under the previous collector HMS refuse to take on their responsibility.
Where are these Boarders?
Eastern Avenue, The Swamp, Windsor Park, Whitehall Bay, Snug Harbour?
Tell us so that we can go look for them.
LOL!
Just give mac Bush a blank check or 2 and send him shopping.
Let’s buy a Chinese one one. Hear you can get a good deal – they’ll even throw in a Chinese navy crew.
Great, but hopefully this newly formed force will earn it’s keep as the air and sea fleet are going to cost the public purse a pretty penny. Also hope they get a helo with a winch and not some overpriced Fisher Price adult sized toy that can’t fulfill it’s intended missions.
Can’t wait to hear them catch the hard drug shipments like cocaine and heroin.
Next I’d like to see legislation change so that any seized ganga of sufficient quality can be processed into oil locally and sold for medical purposes. This might at least help offset the fuel costs involved.
The ganja seized should be given away to registered users, this takes away the market for the drug dealers to sell it, hence no money coming in and they would eventually have to give up the trade!
Why can’t the RCIPS heli be sold then buy one that can function for both CG and policing? Is there that much demand for both? No.
Yes. One of anything that needs servicing and may have a fault at any time always has no resilience.
Buy a new one
Remember the Cop is responsible overall for the coast guard, this makes no sense. The only reason is because there will be firearms trained officers in the coast guard and the police are the only ones governed to carry firearms. This is going to be a mess.
I find it very interesting that Government is proposing a Coast Guard, along with SAR responsibilities (Search and Rescue), yet, Fire Services cannot even perform basic CPR as a first responder. The chances of saving live would be greater if our first responders on land knew how to be able to assess a patient’s condition and be competent in delivering basic first aid. … A certified first responder is trained in controlling blood loss and securing broken limbs. How great would it be when the ambulatory service is so spread and thin?
If someone needs CPR then call the right people, the Paramedics!
Idiot. So when your relative is laying on the roadside after suffering a heart attack, we’ll stand and watch whilst they die waiting for EMS.
CPR is a basic skill and every child should be taught it at school.
It is pretty clear from the apparently never ending supply of drugs, guns and illegal immigrants that this is much needed, whilst the RCIPS is free to concentrate its chopper on land based crime. They make a difference. Most of the people bitching about this are the same ones bitching about crime.
Will a Caymanian fly the chopper? Or, will one be trained to do so?
The oldest nativist cliché going. I heard so many pathetic mothers tell of how they want their children to be helicopter pilots because if they were Caymanian and qualified they would have to get this job. How about making sure the person who does this important and dangerous job has extensive direct experience rather than a passport that suits petty minded nationalists?
And government can’t train their own???
Let’s not get this done whilst we argue whether a Caymanian will fly it. SMH.
We need radar to scan the horizon for drug boats. If an unidentified vessel is spotted and wont respond to radio contact bring out the 50 caliber and sink them. I’d bet my last dollar that they’ll soon stop bringing drugs and guns to Cayman.
Sounds like a good way to start an armed conflict with another nationstate (as if Cayman has any military or defense plan, it would be “the 2 Minute War”)
What happens when it is just a civilian vessel from another jurisdiction encountering difficulties?
Or a boat coming into port with someone who needs medical attention?
We just start sinking boats haphazardly how long till we “accidentally” sink a vessel with Caymanians souls on board?
Are we just all for state sanctioned murder now?
“Welcome to Cayman :On land there are rules but once you dip a toe into the ocean its the XXXX purge?”
Do you people ever think before you comment?
Why don’t you do some research and try thinking clearly before you post? The US coast guard regularly lights up drug runners like the 4th of July with their 50 caliber machine guns. OBVIOUSLY we wouldn’t just shoot all boats indiscriminately but if a chase ensues sink the bastards yes!!
You have connections to the drug trade? Sounding mighty nervous this morning!!
Calm down Donald.
I hope they buy something better than they bought last time, it’s a condemned British helicopter! They need one that can carry a rescue basket in case of search & rescue operations etc. Bracka.
A condemned helicopter that has saved lives. Not that condemned, have you seen it? It even gets to Cayman Brac Bracka
8.34am I could not agree more, we are a classic basket case.
Interesting re-write of history here – “My government was beaten to death at the time …about the huge expense.” I was actually quite closely following the purchase of the helicopter in 2007 and all the interference I saw was from within the government of the day. If anyone is not familiar with what went on at the time, after the helicopter had been purchased and transported to the USA to be prepped for RCIPS service the politicians started interfering. This kicked off with a ‘whispering campaign’ against both Stuart Kernohan and the machine itself. Two of the main allegations were that it was being purchased for Kernohan’s personal use and that the helicopter was worn out old wreck – both were complete nonsense. In fact I saw the documentation for the helicopter and everything was fine – RCIPS had got themselves a bargain. What had actually forced TVP to retire the machine wasn’t old age but a change in the UK’s instrument flying rules that required new equipment that could not be retrofitted into that particular model. When all that failed the same politicians dreamed up other stunts like a demand that RCIPS fit a winch, which was apparently either impossible or required a major re-build of the airframe. And this went on and on. The ASU should have been established in late 2007/early 2008 but the helicopter didn’t arrive here until March 2010.
The problem will be that if the present operators of the Joint Marine Unit boats are simply transferred to the Coast Guard, they will continue to wreck the boats and the new agency will be without the watercraft needed to fulfil its purpose.
The Coast Guard needs to hire people who don’t think they know all there is to know about local waters and small boats; people who are willing to undergo proper training.
Or we could just legalize Cannabis. Create a farming conglomerate, tax it, and supply the Billion dollar a year medical cannabis industry. This would also lessen the CIG’s dependence on a work permit revenue stream, thus creating more jobs for Caymanians. Also, by legalizing, it will knock out the need for illegal importation by the drug boats that bring in the guns and illegals.
Why are we always so behind on everything?
Because being ahead is risky and draws attention and is expensive and time consuming and has consequences both foreseen and unforeseen no matter how carefully you do it. And I say that even though I agree with you. It’s actually much, much harder than ‘have you heard the word, legalise herb’, as the song goes.
Nah, it’s pretty straight forward.
That is the curse of the twin policies of suitably qualified and Caymanization. The price to be paid for vote buying.
So many lives lost at sea, I think its a good idea. Is a family member or someones family member not worth a helicopter and crew?
Helicopters can’t cure stupid.
Well dont call them for help when youre sinking or adrift.
Or cure the greed of local smugglers.
Upgrading and getting a new helicopter is paramount. Great decision. Aside from all the uses for police and guarding our borders I express my feelings to please make it more practical/safe/user/patient friendly for when completing patient transfers from the sister Islands. What is going on at present is reckless and dangerous for the crews and patients. Thought needs to be a priority if it will be continued to be used in this way.
What is going on at present is reckless and dangerous for the crews and patients How?
We shall see just how supportive the Opposition is once the pilot role is filled.
here we go again…chopper circus part 2….
Only this time it won’t be a circus. Just saying
everything the civil service does is a circus….
Congrats to all involved to get us this far. It’s been a long time coming. Very happy to see the government committing to fund border security, and very proud of the Civil Service for appointing experienced Caymanians to lead these agencies.
You did read the job specification for the CICG Commander, right?
Experienced my a##, this is a purely political appointment to appease those who didn’t want an overseas expert with real working knowledge.
I hope the price paid won’t turn out to be too high.
Just another day in our beloved islands, PPM keeping promises and our world class civil service delivering. It just doesn’t get any better than this.
stop.
there have been two independent report on the civil service in recent years by miller shaw and e&y. the term world class was never used.
you have got your head firmly in the sand and you are to be pitied.
I think that was a joke
Excellent!.
When will our so-called Leaders EVER learn? Are they so ignorant as to continue wasting time, effort & money in the futile pursuit of old and outdated ideas while we have the ability to acquire the more modern, effective and cheaper technologies that are being displayed ‘in our face’ every day?
The entire world is moving away from manned aircraft to un-manned aerial drone technology as it is WAY CHEAPER to buy, operate, maintain and staff. Seriously? Drones can be automated, and they don’t require highly experienced pilots who are expensive and in demand, they are compact, portable, are not susceptible to fatigue, quieter to operate, and can even stay aloft for days at a time. Caymanians can become trained and qualified to operate and maintain them far more easily and cheaper than a helicopter. Several of them can be operated for a fraction of what it costs to operate just one helicopter. The real question is do we really need to have a helicopter at all?
Did you miss the fact the RCIPS Unit are operating drones as well? And the answer to your question is yes the Cayman Islands needs the helicopter, so there you have the answer to your real question. Time and time again. Proven. Not sure how the drone will help is in disaster time.
And drones can go and winch people up from out of the water right? Or air ambulance someone from ship to shore?
Definitely get rid of the helicopter altogether. Now that’s a brilliant idea.
Richard Wadd, have you ever seen a drone lift someone out of the water in a dramatic sea rescue? Or is there a drone that can airlift someone from Cayman Brac to Cayman in a medical emergency?
Can a drone actually conduct a rescue? Or intercept a drug boat? Or would you still need the human element to do that bit? What your suggesting makes sense and is used in other parts of the world but it is used to compliment the border patrol, not as a primary resource. So good try, just think it thru a bit more next time. Few weeks ago the cops announced that they are acquiring drones for patrols. So we are heading in that direction, but as an additional resource and not human replacement.
Can drones pull people out of rough water and transport them to medical care (sometimes) with minutes to spare?
Great ADDITIONAL idea though but you will need both technologies.
Case in point: unmanned ships.
And how do you fast rescue at sea?
CG helicopters are still the mainstay off search and rescue in both civilian and military services. Drones can’t pluck souls from a sinking vessel, perhaps you should take a look around the real world before mouthing off about a subject you clearly know nothing about.
We are moving from the age where people value robots and technology MORE THAN the physical contact of human beings. The world is becoming a cold and indifferent place. As we speak, drones are being used for sinister reasons.
6:34 More impressive is the list of things drones cannot do like SAR and casevac. The helicopter isn’t just for catching bad guys, it’s a proven lifesaver for the good people of these islands.
Let me ask you something pray tell. What un man drone can rescue people???
Well it can take a selfie before you drown, and you can have your last words transmitted to facebook
Can your drones rescue 6 people from a stricken vessel 10 miles offshore?
Can the helicopter?
Mr. Wadd , I agree with everything else , except the real question, do we need a helicopter, yes there are many different reasons why the Coast Guard and the Police and Pharmedic should have a helicopter, but the size of Cayman Islands, two could do , with trained personnel.
Folks, before posting replies you need to read the name on the original post. Richard Wadd = Dickwad – it’s a troll. I’m surprised CNS didn’t spot this.
Interestingly, back in 2007 I remember a now defunct newspaper publishing anti-helicopter comments under the name Richard Head (Dickhead) – I wonder if this is the same person.
CNS: Yes, I spotted the name. However, this commenter has used this pseudonym often and over a long period. Just because it’s not a real name doesn’t mean he (or she) is a troll, which is a deliberate flamer. The views associated with this username have been consistent.
Richard is not a troll. At times a tool, true, but not a troll.
This is why the roles of any helicopter (replacing the current one, buying a second one because we like new toys, etc.) needs to be very clearly articulated in advance. Otherwise we end up like last time spending lots of money an unfit-for-service item. (See the amount of retrofits to get the police helicopter to do things it wasn’t specified to do in the first place.)
One you know what you want to do then you can decide what the best (effective, economical, etc.) tool is. For example, if we say we want to be able to search a large area of ocean for a small boat (lost fishermen) and then rescue said boat/people then you might decide that actually a ‘fleet’ of unmanned drones with one medium-sized rescue boat is more effective at scouring the sea, more efficient at going to the vessel in distress, and more economical to purchase and operate (including personnel costs) than buying a helicopter that can rescue six people (a number some other poster used for some reason), taking into account that one or even two helicopters will scan a much smaller area than say six drones.
Everything is compromises but if you don’t know what you want to do, what’s really important and what’s just nice, then you won’t make the best/informed choice/compromise.