23 displaced by generator fire in Fern Circle
(CNS): A fire that originated from a generator at a tenement yard on Fern Circle, off Fairbanks Road in George Town, last Monday, 19 August, resulted in the displacement of 23 individuals after the planning department condemned the property, according to the Cayman Islands Red Cross, which opened its shelter that evening to provide assistance to those affected.
The Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS) said that early that morning, it responded to a 911 call about the fire, which reported that it was in the generator room at the residence. When they arrived, the fire crews found that the generator fire had been extinguished by the tenants using buckets of water from a cistern.
However, further assessments revealed an active fire in the ceiling and roof of a structure attached to the generator room located on the east side of the main house, which is separate from the main house. The CIFS team quickly extinguished the fire, preventing its spread and further property damage. No injuries were reported.
Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Randy Rankin said, “I am immensely proud of our firefighters’ rapid and effective response to yet another fire incident. Their training and coordination were evident in their ability to contain the fire.”
At the same time, CFO Rankin urged the public to make fire safety a priority. “If we all work together, we can keep our communities safe. Our firefighters will always be ready to respond but please do your part to prevent fires, which can have devastating consequences.”
Eight people stayed at the Red Cross shelter. The CIRC said its volunteers and staff transported the affected individuals to collect personal belongings before bringing them to the shelter and ensured that they received a hot meal for dinner.
The CIRC said it collaborated with Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) and the Jamaican Consulate to coordinate assistance and that it would provide ongoing support to those impacted by the fire.
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Category: Local News
Shocking!…
Generating quite a bit of interest and hopefully lighting a fire under the negligent authorities.
The business of stealing power from CUC, as reported in a 2015 CNS article relating to this particular person who apparently never paid off the debt owed to CUC or served any time of a suspended sentence, is indicative of a routine lack of enforcement in Cayman.
And the reason nothing is enforced is that too much easy money is being made, whether by CIG, or in this case by CUC, so no one can be bothered to deal with situations like this that require some diligence and effort to resolve.
So matters such as this are conveniently swept under the rug and the persons involved can be expected to carry on as before without any consequences.
Society suffers as a result and the territory continues its march towards the third world.
Slumlords preferred foreign tenants because they can threaten them with eviction truth is truth These slum landlords have a real chip on their shoulder because they married to Caymanians who thinks they are all that.Thats why they always hanging out with his foreign pariah friends at the beach like they own the place.
From the reading of comments below and probably above – I suspect multiple responses are being generated from the same individual with different signatures. Gee, let’s flood the comments section as if there are many more interested parties.
The Slumbot has entered the chat.
Based on the number of low wage earners who are forced to pay punitive rates for this type of illegal accommodation there are many thousand “interested parties”.
These slumlords are living well off the misery of others beachfront properties and retail business galore and big life & travel . Shut them down Now ! Caymans
A list needs to be drawn of these Slumlords and their ghetto like properties it would surprise you who these slumlords are and their spouses who claim they are helping Caymanians runinng around town in their SUV’s and high fashion clothing with their arrogance and like they smell $#@% at their fancy restaurants while their tenants living in their rundown Hell holes paying premiums rental prices . High time the government do something about this dire and awful situation. Tenants are people too !
Speaking about foreign Slum lords the wife of local business owner who runs around like her %$#@ don’t stink looking down on her tenants and treating them crap and only renting to non locals cause they prejudice as f%#@, DCI need shut down these squalor properties until they meet the basic standards for habitation. Shame on these so called business men .
This slum landlord has blighted the area for years with his anti-social behaviour with petrol generators going 24/7, diverting electricity, nuisance parking etc. He’s out profit before safety and it’s purely good fortune nobody was killed.
And what had the member of parliament living nearby done about it?
1200 feet away (1800 by road)
My sentiments exactly what has the MP in her secure complex next door has done. I think we should move the displace tenants over to there plush condos across the way . I am sure she will do something then to earn her exorbitant salary.
I was referring to Kenny, savior of all things. But to your point and to be fair, Barbara is closer.
MP just making sure no votes are lost …that’s all they do.
Planning look the other way in case there’s work involved
Civil servants look after their friends.
Corruption is entrenched in Cayman, in many ways.
Well he’s from JA so he can do as he pleases. They run Tings round ya.
23 x lets say $800 p/m
That’s $18,400 per month or $220, 800 each year.
And all now he nah pay back CUC?
Gutterlords and slumlords in Cayman are too common but not all slumlords are Caymanian! In my neighbourhood, my HOA had to petition Dept. of Planning on numerous occasions as a single-family residence had become a tenement housing 13 people. Eventually, Planning took action an enforced the unapproved changes which had been made to the single-family residence and eventually it was sold. BTW, the owner was a doctor who lives in a gated community in Texas!! There’s still another one but a regular visitor there happens to be “our representative” MP.
Slumlords must be stopped!!
Next update will probably say the owner has a new generator and the 23 displaced tenants are back + 3 more!
who is the owner and what will be the consequences?
these are the only questions..(not asked)
The land registry lists the property owners as Michelle Elizabeth Faulknor and Neville Antonio Faulknor.
Have a little google of him if you don’t already know.
When he was stealing power from CUC rather than running the generator, he got a suspended sentence on the basis he paid back CUC the $139K. Meant to be a 6 month top up on his sentence if he didnt pay. He didnt pay them back, and didnt serve the suspended sentence – let alone the extra 6 months – either. So the consequences of his breaching the planning law and trade and business licence laws are likely to be the square root of sod all. if they cant even put him inside for breaching a criminal compensation order, prospect of doing anything about planning and business licencing laws zero.
He’s been a pwoppa nawty geezer. Tea leaf.
The three to a room accomodation racket in Cayman is allowed to go on because a great many of the landlords are civil servants.
Another example of endemic corruption at work.
Let us ALL understand something very clearly.
1. Tenement yards are impossible. They cannot exist in Cayman because they breach the planning laws. If there is one it is ONLY because those responsible for enforcement are not doing their jobs.
2. Tenement yards are impossible. They cannot exist in Cayman because they breach the Trade and Business Licensing Act. A Trade and Business License is required to ren more than two rooms. If there was no license, DCI would have raided and shut it all down years ago (unless those responsible for enforcement are not doing their jobs).
3. Tenement yards housing foreign workers are impossible. They cannot exist in Cayman because the Immigration authorities have to be satisfied as to the adequacy of housing before granting a work permit. Inadequate housing can only exist if those responsible for enforcement and regulation are not doing their jobs.
This selective non enforcement of our laws has to stop. It is destroying Cayman.
Excellent post. CIG’s culture of haphazard enforcement has to end if Cayman is to survive and thrive.
CIG does not care. Nothing will be done.
Criminal prosecutions for common law maladministration will do the job. 25 years in Northward would focus some minds. It appears likely that the conduct of some civil servants has now crossed the criminal threshold.
Good that no one was injured, but this has been going on for years there and reports are that the owner has been sued by CUC for stealing electricity and owes them thousands.
Neighbors have been complaining for years about this slum and nothing has been done.
This is but one of the many potentially dangerous and deadly slum tenements on the island and they are spreading.
Reports? There are convictions.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2015/02/cuc-sues-ex-electrical-inspector-for-139k/
You have to see the derelict houses that are being used for imported workers in Little Cayman. Disgraceful how certain employers are allowed to let their employees fend for themselves in a place where there are next to no accommodation options other than falling down shacks or single rooms at punitive rates.
This is what happens when the enforcement arm of the Planning Department doesn’t do their job. It isn’t the first time and it certainly won’t be the last.
Not just planning. WORC, CBC, Public Health, DCI – all have been caught with their pants down on this one.
World-class my ass.
Because the landlords are Caymanian and will complain to their local MP that they are not allowed to maximize their rents. You should need a rental occupancy certificate.
You do. It is called a Trade & Business License and is required if renting more than 2 units.
of course, if the law is not enforced…
This landlord came to us from Jamsica where at least 70% come from
And will the local who let this happen be charged?
Haroon? Not likely.
@26/08/24 at 7:23 am. By “local” I assume you’re referring to Caymanians? Or are you someone that believes that anyone who doesn’t look like you must be a “local”?
I’m sure it’s a dream of all nearby residents to live by a tenement yard in a low density residential area.
Enforcement is needed to stop this kind of thing becoming a tragedy. Of course, construction, landscaping, and retail need their cheap imported labor, and we don’t want to ruin that business plan!
23 people living in a 3-4 bedroom house?
Stay classy Cayman.
How has this owner been allowed to get away with this for so long? I would think the court has a right to seize the property & sell to pay off the owners debt?
You sound like a fun one to hang out with at parties.
This habit of supporting foreigners when Caymanians are struggling with homelessness has to stop. As a small country we simply cannot afford it. I’m really sorry for these people but if they can’t secure new housing on their own after sometime their employers should have to step up or they should be sent home.
You tried renting a place lately? Have some compassion for those less fortunate than you, who happen to be people caught in a situation not of their making.
I bet you don’t mind these same people fixing your car, cleaning your pool, or scanning your groceries.
I wrote the original comment (6:09am) as a struggling caymanian myself. I have a lot of compassion for these people but the government won’t even help its own people but you want them to help everyone else? I hate to see them in this situation but we can’t save everyone. Our government has a responsibility to US CAYMANIANS first. So no I don’t own a pool like you said or a home for that matter. I’m renting like most people so I understand what they are going through more than you do. Why don’t you step up and offer them a place to stay then? Since you got it all figured out!
Numbnuts, I rent too. A 1 bed at that, so nope, it’s outside of my ability.
But you also have a place to rent, so by that mark, you’re better off than these people. What’s to say that none of these people are Caymanian, too?
Other than the facts that both the landlord and tenants are all immigrants, you mean?
Caymankind
The consequence of lack of enforcement, slack laws, imported poverty & the high cost of living. I’m sorry these tenants were taken advantage of & I hope the relevant government agencies will do their job of holding the landlord accountable.
Yeah, you should see the empty lots owned by Caymanians that rent them to fishermen to live off in residential areas. Trash heaps and noise pollution. Nothing will be done though, it’s the Cayman way.
Expats picking up the tab for the status holders as is tradition. I suppose all of our close to two dozen politicians are “unaware” of the problem of slum housing right?
Sabrina was very busy about the Cayman flag being on the ground outside HSA. Nowhere to be seen when the real issues appear though.
About 1 minute walk away from Kenny’s place there’s a house that regularly has at least 12 vehicles in the yard and on the street. It’s a regular home, so 3 or 4 bedrooms max. 4 of the vehicles are parked on the road, flat tires, not moved for weeks, months, or years.
Strong Eastern Avenue vibes.
This particular property is about a 3 minute walk from Kenny yard.
Don’t mess with Kenny voters…
Beware the yellow shirted billboard brigade!
He knows where his customers are, gotta give him that.
Should have left it to burn