Deputy to act as top prosecutor
(CNS): Candia James-Malcolm, the current deputy director of public prosecutions, has been confirmed as the temporary director following the sudden and still mysterious departure of Patrick Moran, the former top prosecutor. James-Malcolm was appointed by Governor Martyn Roper on advice from the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. The appointment is effective from today, 19 May, for an initial period of three months as the full formal recruitment exercise gets underway.
“I would like to thank Mrs James-Malcolm for accepting the appointment and stepping into this acting post,” Roper said in a release from his office. “I have the utmost confidence in Mrs James-Malcolm’s leadership of the team at the Office of the DPP during this time of transition.”
Officials have refused to comment on the situation surrounding Moran, who resigned earlier this month without a full explanation and in the face of an alleged internal inquiry, triggered by allegations of bullying and possible racist behaviour.
James-Malcolm was appointed as deputy last August after acting in the role since January 2019. She came to Cayman from Trinidad in 2009 and joined the Attorney General’s Chambers as a crown counsel, prosecuting criminal cases. She transitioned into the public prosecutions office as a senior prosecutor.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Take a look at the Solicitor Generals Department and you will see a similar pattern, loaded with nationalities other than Caymanians. So what’s the common denominator and reasons for this?
Poor pay. Caymanians work for more in the private sector. Only AG and SG got 16 per cent salary increase when the other lawyers are told that budget cannot accommodate salary increases.
Appears that there are two career paths if you are DPP. The incompetent get rewarded with cushy jobs and promotions, the competent are forced to resign.
Appears like the only type of racism that took place was the reverse type. Appears that one cannot have minimum standards and expect people to follow them. Appears that if you challenge the many incompetent prosecutors from islands to the east of us, those who prosecute innocent people for the flimsiest of reasons, with no prospect of conviction, that you will end up being called a racist. Appears that if you challenge same incompetent prosecutors for not prosecuting their friends and friends of friends for crimes that they committed, that you will be labeled a racist. Appears that the Cayman Islands will continue to lower their standards in the name of wokeness. Appears that incompetence is rewarded as are unproven insinuations. Appears that the Cayman Islands are in a race to the bottom. Stay woke my friends!
What proof do you have of any of these allegations?
Ummmh, which point do you need clarified? The fact that much of the prosecutorial body is incompetent… or that they have a history of protecting friends, and prosecuting cases that should never see the light of day…or, the fact that the trait mark of the CIG, Civil Service, etc is to reward incompetence and punish competence… or have people “quit”, fired, “laid off”, “investigated”, etc when it suits their plans. Not very bright are ya?? Maybe you ought to keep your ears and eyes a bit more open.
Common knowledge like the sun rising in the east not the west.
Stay woke~!
Just in case i ever have to see Madam , kindly remember that i wish you good luck and my blessings .
I find not committing crimes has kept me out of the courts 99% of the time.
What a disappointment is the DPP saying this is the only option here, Well this in my opinion was in the mix so lets see Cayman who will be the head DPP. Also its amazing how this is playing out shame and slap in the face.
Conviction rate will plummet
No surprise here even Batabano parade has been taken over by these Caribbean Pirates! Really sad what is happening in to Cayman. What a shame
FSS. Is this really what it’s come to?
Caymanians biggest enemy is Caymanians in high positions, they like to give Caymanians under them a hard time and think hard to see them promoted.
She isn’t Caymanian. Nor were the last 2 DPP. What’s your point?
I think the OP is saying those higher up Caymanians are allowing this to happen, those higher up than the legal department/judiciary branch.
Having dealt with Patrick Moran, I think he is a loss to the jurisdiction as the head of the DPP. He was excellent at his job. The nature of the complaint made against Moran is of great concern. But what is of even greater concern is that this sort of accusation was leaked almost immediately to the media by someone in the DPPS office. For that very reason we should all be put on notice that there is a real problem in that department and Patrick is perhaps not the problem.
You mean aside for the various stupid cases taken to trial and lost?
Not sure what stupid cases you’re talking about. We have noted matters that went to court where the defendants pretty much admitted their guilt but yet the jury acquitted them. We have all had the debate about what does it mean to have a trial by jury in Cayman. So its not just speculative that we do have a problem with certain trials even when the evidence seems overwhelming. Moran made difficult but necessary decisions to bring some to trial and won. So whatever matters you’re thinking of doesnt take away from the fact that he was good for the jurisdiction. I cannot help but say that persons reputations have been dragged through the mud and even encouraged on these sites and often totally unwarranted. This is such an instance. It is shameful!
🙊
the “woke” wars are raging…crazy times
I am a Caymanian and the outgoing DPP Mr. Moran I found to be encouraging and supportive all along. I don’t know what happened to his situation, but I can only hope that whoever they put in charge will be as effective as he was for Caymanians.
We need to put a stop to bringing in people here though and developing them at the expense of Caymanians who do not get sent on the training the outsiders do.
Hire the English lawyers that they have to use as ‘consultants’ and give all these benefits of employment to young Caymanians.
The British lawyers will at least leave but we can’t seem to end the contracts for Jamaicans and Trinidadians, what a mess.
where are the young MPs who started in the legal profession? Think about the Caymanians that will be deprived of opportunities if these contracts are renewed automatically.
Hire British or have the UK appoint lawyers on 3-4 year contracts to allow for Caymanians to enter the Civil Service.
we should not have the majority of people in legal, judicial and policing to be from the same jurisdictions; talk about appearance of justice and lack of allegiance to Cayman, Caymanians and British rule (since they all come from territories who want nothing to do with British).
Well her credentials are decent. London School of Economics law degree, Lincoln’s Inn, long experience prosecuting in Trinidad and here. Can’t really tell if she’s any good but someone should know. Any notably successful cases?
How many successful cases does the ODPP have amongst the lot of them? Should give you a good answer to your question
Well the prison is full so…
Not to difficult filling up a prison based off of strict liability or people pleading guilty……but get them to do the same where it involves a trial and…….90% get off.
While at university many years ago I came across a book entitled ‘The Peter Principle’.
To quote from Wikipedia “The Peter Principle states that a person who is competent at their job will earn a promotion to a position that requires different skills. If the promoted person lacks the skills required for the new role, they will be incompetent at the new level, and will not be promoted again.
Not sure whether the authors ever visited Cayman or include data or observations obtained here in coming to that conclusion.
Not trying to single anyone one nationality out I’ll leave that to the respondents but isn’t the judiciary and its machinery stacked with heads from one particular country? Same as Immigration and ditto for RCIPS.
Sounds like the system is fit and rigged for corruption and as one poster mentioned needs a top to bottom clear out. I am OK with the mother country investigating if they have competent and credible personnel on the job and not some over zealous, bumbling idiots that think they’re above the law.
Cant speak for the other departments, but WORC (formerly Immigration) is well known for having a 100% Caymanian workforce.
Explains a lot.
Immigration is stacked with Caymanians running the show..
@6:48 re immigration with Caymanian workers
But the civil service is NOT yet subject to these labour and immigration laws.
Therefore Jamaicans and Trinidadians (majority of people in legal) befriend Caymanians to stop Caymanians from entering civil service knowing they don’t have to worry about immigration or the DG protecting rights of Caymanians, so they’re content to laugh at these comments convinced even the new government will not protect the interests of their own children.
CNS – where is the link to the piece you published a while ago on how to fix the prosecution service?
CNS: Here.
My question is – who is going to manage the search for a replacement DPP, including advertising etc. If that process is open to manipulation and is manipulated then the likely outcome is already known and we could save our selves some money by not even bothering to go through the motions.
I have to wonder whether the Governor and those who advise him on appointments have any clue as to what is actually happening?
Is the job of the JLSC?
So the coup looks like it is succeeding nicely then.
Could we please bring in experts from the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to do a top to bottom assessment of the DPP’s office as soon as possible. If we do not there is a risk that poor to mediocre outcomes will remain the norm.
If we ever hope to have a credible ODPP, outside expert oversight is badly needed. The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate is one agency that would be able to identify the strenghts (if any) and the weaknesses of what we have at the moment. That in turn would provide valuable information regarding the qualifications and experience necessary for the next DPP to make that department it they ought to be.
Agreed 2.21 have attended several tribunals where the Legal department lawyers have been an embarrassment when faced with private sector UK attorneys.
If allowed, internal audit can do the job. IF…
So is she the one who brought three of ‘her’ people to the Legal Department without any advertising in UK or Cayman?
Ten years of training by the local & overseas British lawyers so now she gets top position, and blocks path for generational Caymanians?
As a young Caymanian in mid-management position I am so tired of Caymanians fighting against the British for the benefit of Jamaicans and Trinidadians. When are you all going to wake up and see they’re playing the oldest trick in the world, or same as colonialists did… divide and conquer!! I guess they all see what a mess their own people have done so can easily come here and ironically convince Caymanians and local leaders they want the best for us.
I really am so sick and tired of just watching this stupidness.
They were talking about the Canadian who got job at Courts Office yet not talking about this???
Wake up and stop being so scared of Jamaicans and Trinidadians!
Appointing this already over-promoted lady to act as DPP is a really bad idea.
Thank you!
What are your credentials?
@4:22 if you are referring to author of post @1:11, I am extremely over-qualified for my position and more qualified than the acting DPP even if in a different field.
6.24pm Would you by any chance be a civil servant, WORC should decide which nationality gets these promotions and WORC is entirely Caymanian. If it can’t then you have the option to change the law so it can.Bearing in mind how well qualified you are why did you not stand for election and become a Minister, you would have been a shoo-in looking at some of the newly elected incumbents.
No sadly not a civil servant and not interested in running for office. I will accept being a rising star elsewhere.