Cops & 911 find no trace of alleged early calls
RCIPS Joint Marine Unit tow the Panga boat that the missing men and boys had been aboard
(CNS): Claims made Friday by relatives of the two boys and three men now presumed lost at sea that they called 911 long before midnight on the night their loved ones did not return home have been refuted by the police and the emergency call centre. Screenshots given to other media appear to show 911 calls at 8:29 and 10:42 on Sunday night but they are not backed up by records from 911 or the phone companies.
Relatives of Kanyi and Kamron Brown, Nicholas Watler, their uncle Gary Mullings and Edsell Haylock told Cayman 27 that earlier calls were made reporting that the group had not returned from the fishing trip.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) and the Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC) both insist that the first notification received by the RCIPS or 911 about the missing people was at 11:57pm on Sunday, 6 March, from the mother of the two young boys on the boat.
Other family members are now claiming that they made calls several hours before that. However, the phone numbers of those calls have been scrutinised by 911 and the phone service provider, both of which found no trace on any records on Sunday night for one of the numbers but a call from the same number was made at the matching times (12 hours later) the next morning. The call from the second number recorded by 911 is ambient sound without a substantive conversation.
Officials have implied that screenshots appearing to show real reports have been manipulated.
“The 911 Communications Centre has the critical duty to receive and respond to all emergency calls from the public,” the RCIPS and DPSC said Tuesday in response to the latest allegations that have dogged this tragedy. “It is critical that public confidence in the Centre is not undermined by misrepresentations or manipulation of technical equipment. The RCIPS categorically denies allegations that it has failed to respond or withheld information regarding this tragic incident.”
The release said that a phone number was provided to both the RCIPS and the DPSC last Friday from a family member who said a call was made from her phone at 8:29pm on Sunday, 6 March. This number was checked through the 911 call log systems, which determined definitively that no calls were received from this number anytime on Sunday, 6 March, but found that a call was received by 911 from the same number the following morning, Monday 7 March, at 8:29am.
Recordings of that call reveal the family member was calling to state that her relative went out on a boat “yesterday” and was asking for an update on the search and rescue operation. All 911 calls are recorded and the transcript of the call, which will be made public, indicates that this was a not an initial emergency communication to report the five missing persons. During this call, the 911 operator called the George Town Police Station and spoke with the inspector on duty, who advised the operator that the same family members had already been informed and thoroughly updated that morning. (See the summary of phone records search made by the service provider regarding alleged 911 calls from this phone — Phone #1 — below.)
The second 911 call from another relative, which they claim was made at 10:42pm, has also been scrutinised and while a call was made from that number at 10:42pm for a period of approximately 40 seconds, the recording of the call is what described as an “open line” with no substantive conversation. Officials said the recording, which will be made public, contains ambient sound in the proximity of the caller with different voices being picked up.
Information from the phone provider also indicates that the times reflected on the screenshots provided to the media do not coincide with the information recorded on the provider’s system.
Meanwhile, Jerome Begot, the owner of Cayman Helicopters, has said that he would have been willing to join any search and rescue operation if he had known or been asked. He also accused the RCIPS of not communicating with him properly as he was searching for the boat after it had already been located.
The RCIPS said Begot was fully briefed except on Monday morning, as the Air Operations Unit was not aware that he was flying at the time the boat was discovered. When the helicopter crew attempted to reach him, no radio contact could be made. “Once contact with them was made, he was informed and also received a full briefing on the ground that day,” the RCIPS noted.
Although stating in an interview with Cayman 27 that he would have been willing to fly the night before, he pointed out that neither the police helicopter nor his own are proper rescue machines and need boats on the ocean.
Following the interview on Cayman 27, CNS reached out to Begot about the communication problems and his willingness to fly but a company representative said they had been advised not to comment further until the enquiry that is now underway has finished. “We look forward to being able to discuss this once the investigation has been completed,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile in response to CNS enquiries to the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that Cayman helicopters are not licensed to fly at night and explained how both the private helicopter and the police chopper are cleared for take-off.
“Cayman Islands Helicopters (CIH) currently holds a valid Air Operator Certificate (AOC) approved for commercial air transport operations and is authorised to operate Eurocopter AS350 type aircraft for daytime Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations only. This authorisation does not include the conduct of day or night police operations (aerial surveillance). Police Air Operations are conducted by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Air Operations Unit who are authorised to undertake these activities through the issuance of a Police Air Operator Certificate issued in accordance with Article 95 of the AN(OT)O and ongoing compliance with their approved Police Air Operations Manual (PAOM). The Air Operations Unit is approved for night VFR operations in support of police activities,” the regulator stated.
The families of the missing people have complained from the beginning that the search and rescue operation was not handled properly because the police refused to begin the operation at midnight when the report was made. Given the significant criticisms of the police involved in the rescue, Police Commissioner David Baines called on the governor to begin an enquiry into the handling of the operation.
That announcement came just hours after a call from Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush for an entirely independent enquiry. CNS understands that the families are also calling for a review that does not involve anyone from the Cayman Islands Government and are said to be also seeking a judicial review of decisions made by RCIPS officials.
The search and rescue operation transitioned to a recovery operation at the weekend after the potential area for search widened to encompass almost all of the Caribbean Sea due to potential drift patterns a week after the last known location of those missing.
Records for the phones the men had on board the vessel show that all activity on the numbers stopped before 4pm on Sunday, 6 March, around the time they were last spotted by another boater, who allegedly spoke to the men on board a few miles from 12 Mile Banks as they were having engine trouble. Although they only had one working engine at that time, they refused any assistance and said they were heading home. The witness reportedly told police that he did not see life vests or flotation aids on the 27-foot Panga boat.
The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands has also confirmed that the fishing party did not record their trip and anticipated time of return with them.
Summary of phone records search, made by the service provider, of Phone #1 during the time in question:
The times reflected for the four calls on the screenshots provided to the media are identified as:
- Inc from 9*****8 — 06/03/16 — 20:21
- Out to 9*****0 — 06/03/16 — 20:25
- Out to 911 — 06/03/16 — 20:29
- Out to ‘family member – name redacted’ — 06/03/16 — 20:31
Based upon provider toll data, these calls are actually identified as being 12 hours later than the photo reflects:
- Inc from 9*****8 — 07/03/16 — 08:20
- Out to 9*****0 — 07/03/16 — 08:24
- Out to 911 — 07/03/16 — 08:29
- Out to ‘family member – name redacted’ — 07/03/16 — 08:32
Category: Local News
Obviously whisky bravo meant “911” just sayin”… Dont worry anyone that had anything bad to say about this situation with no remorse shall know how this family feels, God doesnt sleep
Driftwood has alot to say about everything huh
we might never know the truth
1 Locker broken into at the police station, no officers held accountable
2 Bermudan authorities investigating RCIPS
3 No traces of family calls, not even a call from Michael Bush
4 Twice bikes have been stolen from the RCIPS
Seems to be a pattern and these are the people who suppose to protect us, sounds like we need to protect ourselves, incompetent if you ask me.
sorry to say but pointing a finger isn’t going to change anything. THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE WENT OUT! plain and simple. Even if the police did receive the call earlier THEY WERE ALREADY GONE. Really,…..they were. With the seas as high as they were do we really think those persons were treading water all that time. I think not. Sorry to the families for their loss. It really is a shame.
By the way RCIPS, you haven’t mentioned that the mother of Mrs Mullings was at the police station after 8.30pm on Sunday 6th March after she made a call to you, why not release the cctv images, she went down there 3 times asking for your help and please do not release the one after midnight #coverup
A lot has been said about these men and tragedies. However I am most concerned that the parents of these two boys allowed them to be taken out on a vessel without any safety equipment.
Did they enquire about the safety of the boat, or even go and check for themselves. They too are negligent as far as I’m concerned.
Calls and now bikes….Trust level at zero
Firstly, my heart goes out to the families of the missing, unfortunately I believe they are dead and never coming back. RIP. I never comment on things, but I do read other peoples comments, and I felt compelled to comment on this horrific story. Now besides the point that the men who are known drug dealers in the Cayman Islands, I believe they went out fishing, and made a STUPID DECISION to go out to sea with those two boys in upcoming rough seas.. Now tell me which one of you haven’t voted for a corrupt politician and not called that a STUPID DECISION. God’s hands have a way of taking the innocent from the guilty and in this incident, he took both at the same time. You all can not blame the adults for taking them out.
In my opinion, the police did not act fast enough in trying to find them. Excuse after excuse has been given to cover up their LAZINESS. It was just that. (Marine Officers on training all day and tired and couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed), Hello your job requires you to be ON CALL at ALL TIMES!!!
RCIPS not knowing the difference between Longitude and Latitude, REALLY!!!
RCIPS did not call the US COAST Guard or Cayman Islands Helicopters, the family did!!!! Please tell me you all are seeing my point by now?
Now on to the latest… Discrepancies about phone calls made. The family alleges that they made calls to the police at 8:29pm, 10:42pm and 11:57pm on March 6th, the Police have only acknowledged the 10:42pm call made as an “Open Line” and the 11:57pm call. According to the RCIPS the 8:29am call on March 7th was recorded, and that the mother of Mullings was asking for an update on her family and that they would be releasing the recording in due course. WHY haven’t they released the call as yet if they have NOTHING to hide? i have unconfirmed reports that the mother was at the police station at the time of this alleged call, so why call 911 to ask about an update? Now lets take the 10:49pm call for 40 seconds, where people are heard talking in the background. Is it not procedure for 911 to return ANY call made to the centre whether it be false or true? Why was this not done?
If that was my family.Trust me when I tell you, a part of me would never forgive myself that i didn’t act faster myself. but bottom line, the RCIPS has a duty to protect and serve, and they did not do their utmost best to PROTECT the 5 missing, and they did not SERVE the family of the missing.
If your still blaming edsel and gary at this point maybe some of your family should go missing to see how it feels. To kick someone that has possibly passed away is disgusting, and why would the family lie about calling 911? If you feel like you family is in danger you think theyre playing games?? So stupid. Ive called 912 before and never got an answer. Ive called west bay police station once for help and they told me to call town, trust me they dont care. They couldnt answer because of the doughnut sugar on their fingers
Hardly surprising that you didn’t get an answer on your call to 912.
Man some you just crack me up sometimes with these comments, no disrespect to the situation of course! But, “Hardly surprising that you didn’t get an answer on your call to 912” lollllllllll
Please, i know you are upset and it is the Cayman way to seek blame elsewhere but for the last time, it was the fault of whoever decided to take that boat out.
Nobody else.
These guys are well known drug dealers. They want no one to know they are out at sea and they don’t want to call for help when they have one engine running. Anyone with common sense that they would call straight away to let people know the problem with boat unlike these guys. They may carry drugs on boat. They failed to carry safety equipment and broke 2 important rules…..one always wear life vest ….. two if boat capsizied always hold or tie yourself to the boat and never swim away.
And perhaps not paint your boat blue?
Obviously you do no know the smuggling world. boat is painted blue or black, depending on your modus operandi. Blue for daytime smuggling, such as using fishing and family as cover as you smuggle in broad daylight. Black for nighttime. Unfortunately, for the very same reasons you cannot be seen, you will not be easy to find and rescue either.
something is not right about the double talk about the helicopter flying at night or not flying at night
They can fly at night but only over water if a number of conditions are met for safety. Thats what they said the other night
Had “dignitaries” not been using a helicopter to ferry them around for the royal visit then there would have been more available capacity for a search.
They used a plane. Stop spreading lies. They are pictures of them everywhere including Facebook on a private plane arriving into Grand Cayman and CAL Express into Little Cayman.
At the end of the day no one to be blamed but the boaters for not communicating, protecting themselves properly or preparing for the trip e.g. weather etc…
Sorry for the family but lets argue at the ones who caused it.
If these allegations of falsifying the call records are true then I hope prosecutions follow. If true, this was done, not with a view to saving lives, but somebody thinking down the litigious road with dollar signs in the eyes.
Thank you, thank you, that is precisely what these shenanigans are about. They want to sue the government, meaning us, using falsified call logs. It’s so disgusting that people would manipulate the public’s sympathy in such a manner. We’ve all had tragedies, I had a close family member die in unclear circumstances several years ago, but I would NEVER would have engaged in such deception, no matter how angry I was! What is wrong with these people? Lord have mercy. This is about nothing but money. Did you notice they put the statement out the same day they announced they hired lawyers? No coincidence, that!
Honestly, the ppl I feel worst for in the messy situation are the two lil boys. At this point I think it’s safe to say RIP Angels to them.
Gary and Edsell fu*ked up. End of story. They never should’ve been out there that day alone or with those kids. And to operate a boat with no life jackets or floatation devices is irresponsible and stupid. They were my friends and I wish their families all the love I have but let’s stop blaming cops and learn from G and Es sacrifice. 6 miles off shore ain’t nothing to mess around with – take responsibility for yourself.
Thank you!
Perhaps day an time settings are the ones that are wrong? intentionally or not, there is 12 hours difference between all calls… that is not a coincidence.
So why can’t lime or digicel give a printout of the calls that went out from their phones…that will solve everything
They did. Read article again.
The customer would have to agree to release their mobile phone billings, otherwise it is a breach of privacy not allowed by legislation. What should happen is that, in the interest of vindicating themselves, the customer gives the provider written permission to give the billings DIRECTLY to a neutral third party, like the judge or whoever is going to lead this inquiry, NOT a family “friend”, but someone with a reputation to lose – the billings should not pass through the customer’s hands, given what they’ve been accused of – and that neutral person publishes them directly. Or maybe the provider publishes them directly with no third party. The customer has now hired a law firm apparently, so they should be able to arrange this without too much bother. If the customer is not willing to do this, well then, you have your answer.
That answer will be that they are liars, and this doesn’t just apply to what they’ve said about the 9-1-1 calls, but everything they’ve said about the police, and specifically the helicopter crew and marine officers who’ve endured nasty, unwarranted criticism while still carrying out their duties. It’s nauseating, and they deserve an apology.
So change your phone time and pretend? Really? What did they think, that the technology of 911 was not able to work this one out. This whole thing stinks, and it is disgraceful that people like the marine unit and helicopter team are being held up for ‘review’. There is a lot more to this than is out there, and good luck to the review team whoever they are, because there is a lot of unravelling to do.
. I think in the height of everything someone thought they called but didn’t and maybe someone said they did but didn’t. It can happen in a crowded room of people panicking we kno this.
Like change your time zone? Yeah, right
Gosh this is bizarre that either side would deliberately manipulate the data. I sincerely hope that this is just some technical mixup because it would make an already sad situation take a sinister turn.
Isn’t this the same Gary Mullings who fled the Cayman Islands in 1999 because of drug charges and was found 4 years later hiding in Jamaica using an alias? The timing of calls to police is interesting but not nearly as interesting as the fact that this man has fled justice before and is coincidently missing while new charges are against him.
Wow! Just WOW! I am seriously hoping the second you pressed “Post Comment” that you regretted that. Are you seriously suggesting that he took two small children and a loving father with him out to sea, skuttled his boat and then they all ran off to Jamaica together to live happily ever after? You really need to examine yourself and ask yourself why you would post this. The only reason I can think of is that you wanted to cause pain and embarrasment to the grieving families. Please go get the help you need to be a less S***** person.
Hmm, appears that one was a little too true for comfort.
Sadly ‘Just tossing it out there’ isn’t the only one with this theory. The story that I’ve been hearing quite a lot is that Gary was about to finally go down for some real prison time. That coupled with the burglary literally the day after he disappeared, and the fact that he has done this before does give credit to the argument that he vanished on purpose. Let’s face it, Gary was no angel. Everybody knows full well what he was into and his history. It wouldn’t be beyond comprehension that he has fled. So I can understand how people have jumped to this conclusion.
HOWEVER, I just simply do not believe it. Whatever the reason these men had for going out that day and taking the children is irrelevant to me. I believe that they did in fact have an accident as they were attempting to come back in and were genuinely needing help.
But the above makes you wonder if this was yet another reason why the RCIPS response was so relaxed.
Yep. And why did he apparently refuse assistance, could it be something to do with the fishing boat that was found to be carrying a stack of ganja around the same time?
I fear that this boat was up to no good and the kids, (and maybe the other adults) were pawns to legitimise a criminal act.
Of course there’s no proof and all of this is conjecture, however the actions witnessed that day and the subsequent claims by the family, alongside past criminal behaviour lead a reasonable person to believe that all is not as clear as some would have us believe.
Ganja? Lol….aint no money in thst!
Sorry, the RCIP lost all credibility when they failed to admit for weeks (if not longer) the general public about the umpty pounds of drugs that went “missing” from their watch. Something that by the way has yet to be explained or someone being held accountable for.
So whilst I am not usually one that believes in conspiracy theories etc. when it comes to some of the stuff that is going on on this Island, I am afraid everything is possible these days.
In general Cayman these days has taken a lax attitude to the sea beyond what transpires at Stingray City.
Our forefathers were men of tremendous psychological fortitude who braved the seas around the world to build up Cayman. The women at home were no less built of such strength, and the offspring likewise were conditioned to be resilient, and to keep positive. These qualities of self sacrifice, caring and prudent living was what built Cayman.
The ” Johnny Come Latelies” however have no clue about our past and do not rely on the Seamens Association for advice on how to run a proper marine patrol. They have allowed the many local veterans of the WWII Royal Trinidadian Navy Reserve to pass on without consulting them on how to develop a proper Coast Guard for our islands.
With our track record of worldwide seamanship, we should be amongst the best and setting global standards which we are still capable of before all of our former seamen die.
Why does it always take an outside expert for us to listen?
So those of us that come from other…much larger seaport countries have less knowledge than the few seamen that lived here in Cayman islands…some of you have little dog syndrome. This island is a spec compared to the world…what makes you think the earth revolves around you? WOW what an arrogant / ignorant person you must be. Your prejudice has made you incapable of intellectual growth.
To Anonymous 1:24pm.
Unfortunately it is you who are arrogant and certainly ignorant.
The post which you responded to was in no way offensive, racist, prejudice or discriminatory. You simply took it personally as if the person was speaking directly to you and only you.
I find it hard to keep my respect for people like you when you have such a blatant disregard for the Native Caymanians; your hatred comes right through your message thus making your comment prejudiced and certainly offensive.
The most disturbing part of it all; you have 29 other sorry soldiers who agree with you. I think you ought to remember you came to Cayman from your “much larger seaport country” and made a life here. Respect for our ancestors and those seamen that helped to build this Country up from the ground is what you lack.
One thing is true; some of our people do have “little dog syndrome” but then again where you come from you have the same thing by the thousands/millions, what’s their excuse coming from a “larger seaport country”?
It’s really simple; respect goes a long way. You, sir/madam do not have any.
Why don’t you remember that these islands were built up by British settlers who mastered sailing around these islands to catch turtles. The next big jump in demographics was after the British invented off shore banking and turned Cayman into an off shore financial centre. This saw a massive growth in population from the UK, US, Canada and Central/South America, as well as huge numbers from the Caribbean.
The next huge leap was tourism and the requirement to employ those for the service sector. And immigration took off to the numbers we see now.
And most of this ‘country building’ was done off the backs of those who came here to work and work damn hard so that you have the opportunities you have now.
In 1960 these islands were populated by approximately 10,000 people, and that was a mix of people’s spread over 3 islands. Just exactly do you think turned this place from a sleepy backwater into a financial and tourism centre within 50 years, Santa Claus?
And by the way, the term ‘Caymanian’ is descriptive, it describes someone from the Cayman Islands, it is not a nationality. So by definition there are no ‘native Caymanians’, with the exception of the indigenous wildlife. In other words any person who makes Cayman his home is Caymanian.
And the myth of ‘Caymanians’ being such worldly wise seamen is just that, a myth. With the exception of a few who joined the US or UK merchant marine or who joined the Royal Navy, most ‘seamen’ were just small boat operators floating around the confines of the Caribbean.
Remember, your own census illustrates the numbers, there just wasn’t enough of you to be this great seafaring nation you aspire to be.
I cannot ‘like’ this post by Anon @ 1.58pm enough! Well said!
I think the tourist and finance sector built these Islands more than or your ancestors ever did. You did no more than most other countries did when an emerging population took root.
Feel free to put a few heroes up on the wall though.
I agree that there should be a contract with the US Coast Guard to quickly help when these type of dangerous sea rescues are needed that RCIPS is not equipped to handle. Cayman Gov’t can’t afford a full time Search and Rescue Helicopter and Team, it’s not feasible financially for the very seldom dangerous rescues that come up once in a blue moon. But shame on the Gov’t for not having a contract with the US Coast Guard in place for these situations to get immediate assistance from them.
And i am a little disturbed that a flare wasn’t properly investigated from the direction of 12 mile bank at 7pm, if the RCIPS did anything wrong, that would be what they did wrong was to not pursue that flare properly. I await to here the outcome of the investigation of that flare, because if US Coast Guard was called in at 7pm they would have reached a few hours later and maybe found and saved them, who knows? There’s never the knowledge of whether it would have been a rescue or not, the sea has many tragedies and missing people and mysteries of what happened to them buried within it’s vastness, just a realistic part of life that many people do get lost at sea, sadly.
What i can’t agree with is thinking that Old time Caymanian Seamen didn’t go missing out at sea and were never found, my Great-Grandfather being one of them, his name amongst many are on the monument in Town of our past missing Seamen out at sea. It happens all around the world that people go missing out at sea and are never found. Titanic being one great tragedy amongst thousands or millions more of unknown stories around the world in undeveloped countries of fishermen lost at sea and never reported to the news or to the rest of the world. In the older days there wasn’t even technology or communication, so many people have gone missing at sea. Just a week or so before this tragedy of our 5 Caymanians, US Coast Guard were frantically searching by the Florida Keys for a Cruiseship passenger that fell overboard. He was never found. Refugees fleeing violence and famine and oppression get lost at sea. It happens all the time that people go missing at sea. It is very sad, but very true.
Much sympathies and prayers to these families of our 5 missing Caymanians – 3 men / 2 precious boys, it is a very sad, hurtful and heart-breaking tragedy. May God give you peace in your hearts and strength and encouragement to face the days and years ahead. God Bless You All.
Well you’ve kind of over egged the point, but losses at sea are a fact of life at sea, every sea going nation can point to their own tragedies. However, most modern countries have contingencies for negating the very real risk of venturing out on to the ocean.
For a start they have laws that require the possession of the minimum required safety equipment and enforce it, and their deep sea fishing fleets are equipped with state of the art electronics and the very best crews.
But we’re not talking about commercial shipping or fishing fleets, we’re talking about pleasure boating. A past time which millions around the world participate in perfectly safely every day of the year.
Losses amongst all forms of water activity can be negated by simple precautions, including safety equipment and a vhf radio, but in more enlightend country’s who have been on the seas for thousands of years, (not a few hundred) we can rely on a national Coastguard service or National Lifeboat Institution should unforeseen problems occur.
So to the crux of the problem.
This small collection of islands simply does not have the infrastructure in place to support a meaningful search and rescue service and it certainly does not have the experienced manpower to put one in place should the funds be available.
The Police are not an SAR organisation in most countries and should not be the lead agency on such matters.
So you must now look at the alternatives if you are to avoid this kind of debacle happening again.
First these islands need to assess their problem, first on the agenda should be the mandatory carrying and use of basic safety equipment as already required by law.
VHF radios should be mandatory on all vessels venturing out on to the open ocean and all masters should be proficient in their use.
The use of appropriate anchor and passage lighting should be rigorously enforced by all marine agencies, not just the police, (In fact I would charge all CIG marine agencies with safety enforcement on the water).
All boats should be required to report their passage, expected timings etc… to port control when venturing out on to open seas.
These are precautions that could be enforced immediately and would undoubtably save lives.
As for a professional SAR asset, well this is a UK territory and whilst all countries have a duty to come to the aid of those in distress, it is not the responsibility of the US government to provide SAR facilities to the Cayman Islands, no more than they supply law enforcement.
As a UK territory CIG should be looking to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (MCA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, (RNLI) for guidance. Both organisations are world leaders in SAR and operate in some of the most dangerous seas on the planet.
The RNLI have a huge fleet of inshore and off shore lifeboats plus world renowned facilities in the UK for the training of SAR operatives from all over the world. The MCA are a premier SAR tasking and coordination service throughout the world and operate a fleet of SAR helicopters that go deep into UK waters to effect rescues plus shore based search and rescue teams.
So the choice is simple, if you want a purpose built SAR service you need to seek out the experience to implement such. You need a line of finance, in the UK the RNLI is totally financed by charitable donation and the MCA is a government agency.
Why not get some of the billions held on this island to actually support the island for a change. Start a charitable trust that raises cash for the purchase and training of lifeboats and volunteer crews. Get some of the big names out there to sponsor the lifeboat service and enable the worlds best to train them to the highest standards in the UK and the US.
But one thing must be made clear. Lifeboat crews are volunteers who will go out to sea in all weathers and at any time, day or night. They must be dedicated to saving lives and totally committed to dropping everything when the call comes.
From what I hear there were people willing to do just that last week, so it’s a good start.
We don’t need to outsource our SAR, the chopper is fine for spotting, it’s lifeboats we need, manned by dedicated men and women who will run forward when others run away.
oh yeah, it’s amazing that any other country at all manages ocean going voyages without Caymanian expertise
Sorry, I thought the “track record worldwide seamanship” was known better for cheap, non unionized labour on bulk cargo ships during the industrial action of the sixties and seventies. Once hard currency started flowing home, as always, everyone wanted a piece of the action.
The men were of no more psychological fortitude and no braver than anyone else who was cheap labour on a cargo ship.
The woman back home were just the same as the women in every other island nation who depended on the remittances sent back.
I am not sure who you are trying to convince? Yourself or the readers of your post?
I believe the first and last comment sums up everything , end of investigation.
If both records of the 911 call center and separately an independent phone carrier show no record of these calls then that pretty much is confirmation that they didn’t occur.
A common coping mechanism for dealing with grief is to channel those emotions and energy into becoming angry and blaming others. Happens everywhere and in many situations.
I can’t believe what I am typing but I actually believe the RCIP for once.
Facts, facts and nothing but shall prevail, eventually.
Great minds!
Family members also claimed the boaters were carrying life vests and did not know a trip to the Banks was planned.
I don’t believe for a second that those calls were not made. One word: coverup
SO you would rather believe the police, the 911 centre AND the phone company are lying, and on a matter which could quite easily be checked by any independent reviewer, rather than the family members. OK then.
This is the same guy who’s been in and out of jail most of his life for dealing drugs. It’s sad that his family are blaming everyone but their own son. It’s also a well known ruse to take children out to a drug deal – it tends to limit those suspicious eyes. That’s why I suspect the police weren’t called…
In this particular instance I do not believe for a minute that this is a cover up. 911 calls are monitored and phone calls are easily verified.
Flow has no reason to coverup, why would they.