Officers recruited to CI ‘army’
(CNS): Following a recruitment campaign for officers for the Cayman Islands’ own regiment, three senior and six junior officers have now been appointed to establish and lead the new force. The regiment will be commanded by Simon Watson, formerly of the Royal Dragoon Guards. He will be supported by Simon Spiers, who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Andre Mon Desir, who will be the legal advisor and staff judge Advocate.
Mon Desir was formerly a judge of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago and served in that country’s defence force, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
The first six junior officers have also been recruited and are due to leave for Bermuda in mid-February to attend three weeks of initial training with the Royal Bermuda Regiment. The group will also attend officer training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst later this year.
They are Theodore Kelly Jr, Selena Sookoosingh, Halston Farley, Shanice Kelly, Gabe Rabess and Jonassi Swaby. Five of the recruits are former members of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps and the sixth has training experience from the RCIPS. The junior officers will serve as full-time officers for a year before becoming reservists and reverting to their previous careers.
The officers will be equipped and provided with uniforms by the UK government during their basic training in Bermuda. On their return they will assist the senior officers to recruit the first 50 reservists who will all receive basic training in Bermuda in July.
The new team will also be assisted by a regimental sergeant major, who has thirteen years experience as a non-commissioned officer in the British Army, including operational deployments, training and recruitment roles.
Governor Martyn Roper said he was delighted with work done to establish the regiment.
“Its primary focus will be disaster preparedness and it will be up and running by August,” he said. “The events of this week underline the importance of developing a regiment in the Cayman Islands which will provide resilience against disasters, not only at home, but also to help our fellow Overseas Territories when in need.”
Roper added, “I am very grateful to Simon Watson and the other officers for stepping forward and volunteering to serve the Cayman Islands in this way. The junior officers will in turn receive some of the best military training available, which will help to develop their leadership potential. We will watch their progress with keen interest.”
Premier Alden McLaughlin, who has been very keen on the development of a regiment in Cayman, said this was an important moment.
“We are blessed to live in a country which is safe and has excellent infrastructure, but recent history, including this week’s earthquake and the devastating hurricanes that impacted the region in 2017 and 2019, highlight the need to adapt and ensure that we are prepared and resilient to face any threat,” he said.
“Having a trained and disciplined force which can be mobilised quickly is vital and will enhance the other initiatives which we have recently introduced, including the increased resilience of our air operations unit and the excellent work that HMCI does to prepare and coordinate our response to disasters.”
McLaughlin also said it was good to see talent from the Cadet Corp being developed with the excellent training they will receive, including at Sandhurst. “I am grateful to Simon Watson and his team for volunteering and wish them every success,” he added.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Local News
We can’t fill the police out ranks with Caymanians. And now we’re going to have an army. Guess who will be the majority of the soldiers?
Ask yourself, do we really need a Jamaican army in Cayman? Why?
Very curious indeed. I wonder what is the expatriate to local ratio with the other Regiment’s they are purporting to be modelling this after. For example the Bermuda Regiment, which seems to be staffed with mostly Bermudan belongers.
So who gets to patrol on JuJu’s paving equipment?
I’d like to recommend one year national service for every 18 year old that isn’t pursuing further education or an apprenticeship – it certainly sorted me out, kept me off the streets, taught me discipline, respect, paid me, got me fit, and set me on a decent path.
Trade school?? Simple minds boy…
Well I suppose the army can patrol the new piers and the pedestrian crossings in front of the harbour, but the money would be far better spent on an army of well qualified educators to improve our failing public education system.
Correct! And this is what he VAST majority of Caymanians do not understand; With all of the time, money, ingenuity, effort and political willpower that is devoted by our elected leaders into the port project and foolishness like this “Army”….where is that passion to get things done when it comes to improving public education???
JuJu has a lot of passion to dismantle the wonderful mathematics path that Professor Frank Eade set us on.
An army……one can but laugh. Let’s have National Service so all the youngsters learn some discipline from a UK Sergeant Major!
Who the hell we going fight?
Cayman Brac
Cannot believe you people want an army for this rock when those funds should be going to educate your children!!
This is a shame. You should be embarrassed.
As nothing seems to phase you folk, I am embarrassed for you.
Another step towards independence.
Soon this place will be like jamaican with 3 murders a day .
Alden’s Army to help Cayman’s transition to Independence. This is how it starts before the UK kicks you out of the door they leave behind a squad to mind the shop until reinforcements arrive.
I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. Cayman does not need to divert money and attention to an army. If we need more emergency personnel in times of disaster then train up a reserve company of firefighters and paramedics. This is ridiculous. Imagine a town of 60,000 in the US or UK deciding that their national military or national guard were not enough so they needed to start their own army.
Kooky.
In the unlikely event that someone invaded us I’m pretty sure the UK or US would rush to defend us.
#lame
I’m sure the regiment will have some members with firefighting and paramedic skills. But most if not all members will have skills no first responder ever learns. They will be assault pioneers capable of doing things like clearing roads and bridging obstacles too. This is military training, not any other type of training, so you don’t get the skills without making a small military unit.
A town of 60,000 in the US or UK has those national or state/area resources available nearby and risks to them are much lower because there are just so many towns. There is only one Grand Cayman in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. Its location predisposes it to events that threaten major infrastructure, challenge law and order, and carry a serious risk of injury and loss of life. Its population (as demonstrated in the last few days) expects the very best of protection and restoration efforts when there is an emergency or disaster. We have enough money and the framework exists in Bermuda and Gibraltar already. The UK is helping, and does us a compliment by facilitating this.
So why not have a small military unit? What is your argument, other than ‘it’s a joke’?
The joke argument is a good one.
Ok, then let’s train a reserve group of “road clearers and obstacle bridgers”. An army is for war. It is disingenuous to say we need an army for peacetime activities.
Don’t we already have the scouts and the cadet corp
How can you compare us to a town in the UK or anywhere where there is a proper response organisation that you are obviously not aware of at the national level. In small islands like ours we have to do everything on our own until we can get assistance, so we have to be self-sufficient. If you need to be educated ask a knowledgeable person in business continuity planning or disaster preparedness in general. God help us if people like you were in charge of our national planning for disaster preparedness.
Ridiculous. Armies are for war. Who would attack us that we would have to go it alone against?
Given the high number of Americans here I’m pretty sure US planes would be landing troops on the island very soon in the unlikely event we were invaded by Cuba or a Disney cruise ship.
We are being conned. Waste of money creating a military for a war that will never happen. And it’s dishonest to say we need soldiers for peaceful purposes. Soldiers are for killing. If you need people to clean debris and do security after a hurricane then train for that and call then something else.
The priority of an army is kill it he enemy. Cleaning up after a hurricane is a distant second. If we need something other than a killing force then let’s get that.
Why do we need an army?
As if they could repel an invasion. This is definitely a prime candidate for a comedy show but we have no TV station to host it on.
Get a life!
I do have a life, a civilian life. Been in a real army and real combat, but this proposition is a real joke and more needless squander of public funds. Leave it to our real protectors not toy soldiers.
You should.
The Governor claims this regiment would have been crucial in assisting with the earthquake. However, why is there no emergency broadcasting system (EMS) to give people proper information in an emergency? International websites were more faster in relaying information than the Hazard Management team! Riddle me that.
I’m sure assisting means “crowd control”
Assisting means stopping the looting that inevitably follows a hurricane (or earthquake) here.
There was inevitably looting on Tuesday? Wow. Where?
Good luck with that
Looting after catastrophes is worldwide.
Very rarely does CNS post an article that puts a smile on my face. I must say I’m pleased that this is happening. Perhaps the next step would be enrolling our boys in such a program and train them to become real men.
A smile on your face? I laughed out loud. That is really dumb!
Why is that dumb? I’m open to hearing your opinion
I didn’t realize till now that CNS was expected to put a smile on my face, I need to put a complaint into CNS of this oversight/
Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death’s construction
In the fields, the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh, Lord, yeah!
Der-Der,
Deh Deh Dehrrrrrr-Deh
I prefer the Faith No More version
So when do they get the main battle tanks and heavy artillery? (Obviously the tactical nukes may need to wait a while).
Also, given there are no plans yet to develop a Cayman Navy, they clearly need to do P Coy and form a Cayman Air Assault Brigade – Jamaica isn’t going to invade itself you know..
I believe it is a coast guard and not an army ! Tangle web!
CNS: The new Cayman Islands Coast Guard is a separate entity.
It is obviously just a national guard but still a waste of money. Just arm the police if you feel that cayman is that bad.
Any US Marines being considered? Plenty nearby in Gitmo and if you want the best of the best look no further
And the winner of dumbest post goes to……
Your papers please?
Good job!! Go and do us proud!!
Please do us all a solid and just don’t!
The last thing this place needs is a bunch of rogue soldiers running around. How much is this going to cost us? All it is is a big hoax of a show.
omg. this whole “army” thing doesn’t sit well with me in this political corrupt banana republic
IF its so corrupt leave! Don’t be a part of the problem.
This whole ‘if you don’t like it leave’ response to criticisms (whether valid or not) is not only childish but would do Cayman no favours.
And biting the hand that fattens you is not childish or hypocritical?
After this week’s earthquake I’d be very glad to have some more support available in the event of a disaster
To add to the confusion.
Seriously, what ‘support’ did you need that this regiment would have been able to provide. Be specific.
What a crock of sh@t! This is nothing more than Alden wanting something between himself, and the civil unrest that will result from his feckless leadership. He will be able to push through any initiative that he wants (i.e., the port project) and use his goons to quell any protest or attempts by the public to physically block the project.
Such a stupid comment.
Your hate of Alden is so burning that you continually ignore the wider picture.
Our hatred is lies and corruption.
I don’t hate the Premier….. I just don’t believe he knows his AC from his DC!!
Maybe you were drunk 😁
The British don’t want to arm the police they rather let the military police the street instead that’s logically stupid.
Yep, this regiment which will take a good while to get in place, be trained and ready for action will be of no use to Alden when he is no longer Premier in May 2021. So much for your theory hater. Maybe you should do something useful with your life and sign up.
The internet is forever. When whoever is in power uses this GOON SQUAD to control YOU and deny YOU your democratic freedoms, come back to this page. My truthful comment will still be here to taunt you.
Oops “CI Army” CNS? A Volunteer Regiment is different from an Army.
What CNS needs to investigate is if a Bill was debated in LA and passed into Law. That will protect the Govt, Volunteers and the general public. A MUST.
Otherwise, Ivan, Paloma and Tuesday 28-Jan-20 major events demonstrate the overdue need. Naturally, a Caymanian with the knowledge and experience should have been CO. We saw that during Ivan 66% of the mercenary police service disappeared when they were most needed. Also, the “Local Continuity” and “History” would be about deserving Caymanian.
you’ve had the protection of the British for over 200 years – I don’t think I know a single Caymanian officer that has passed out at Sandhurst – and if there is, and had the relevant experience, then they should have applied for the job. All likelihood is, they got the best person for the job. As the saying goes, jog on.
Seems like some expats will do anything to stay here. One of the senior appointments in particular has shown really bad behavior towards locals and it is well known that a Caymanian can do his job. Yet the Ministry continues to turn a blind eye and keep him on even when his original remit was to train a Caymanian within his term. His term limit has come and gone. It’s a repeat of what recently happened at the Fire Service where the system has been fleeced and he should not be allowed to extend his stay.
We need protection from most of those guys sitting in front of you…they are pillaging the country.