GOVERNOR OWEN CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME SPIKE

In light of a worrying and persistent spike in serious criminal activity, Her Excellency Governor Jane Owen has issued a recorded statement reassuring the community that the authorities are working diligently to curb the trend.

“Hello everyone, I wanted to take a few moments to talk to you, because I know that there is a high level of concern about the recent security and crime incidents that we’ve seen on our streets and in our communities,” the Governor said in the widely circulated video message.

She continued: “And I can only imagine the high level of distress this must have caused, in particular to those of you who have been directly or indeed even indirectly involved in any of these.”

Governor Owen, who is ultimately responsible for security in the jurisdiction said that she is “working very closely indeed, with Police Commissioner Walton and all of his very able staff to figure out how we can best respond. I’m also working very closely with Premier Panton and the whole of Cabinet, and of course, our wonderful emergency response services.”

Expressing confidence in the Royal Cayman Island Police Service now under the leadership of Commissioner Kurt Walton - the second Caymanian to lead the RCIPS - the Governor added: “I’m pleased to say that Commissioner Walton has a clear strategy and tactical response which is fast and effective. We have seen police working day and night going out into the communities, having increased patrols, new task forces, and also making sure that they are following up with deep investigative techniques.”

However, she reminded “This can only work well if it has the support and cooperation of all of us and all of you. So I want to say to you let’s all continue to be vigilant and also to support the police and the wider security infrastructure that we have as we seek to make sure that we respond, and in the longer term that we continue to keep Cayman as the safe set of islands that we’ve come to treasure.”