Pros and cons of bomb hoax response reviewed

Friday, June 4, 2004

Last week’s debriefing and scrutiny of the cruise ship bomb threat on Thursday, 13 May, was attended by key players in government’s emergency response team and RCIP’s Assistant Commissioner Anthony Ennis concluded: “It is incumbent upon us not to fail the country.”

Those at the debriefing examined events from a chronological perspective, offering “honest and critical” viewpoints.

Coincidently, on the morning of the bomb hoax, an important full-scale emergency exercise, involving an aircraft incident was in progress to test the country’s crisis communications system.

While this included the same key agencies, there were some issues concerning the real emergency in the port being confused with the exercise test.

However, while this challenge served to double-tax the agencies, the dual tests of the response systems proved to be generally positive, according to Mr Ennis.

A positive outcome of the debriefing was that all the key government agencies will be confirming their respective emergency contingency plans which are on file with the police force’s Regional Criminal Intelligence Section.

This office, which has been operating locally from 1995, shares selected general intelligence with other Overseas Territories.

On the aspect of the communication network, it was confirmed that the Cayman Islands has a functioning national and regional system.

However, it was felt, both the technological and personal contacts could be further fine-tuned. Suggestions included a more structured communications centre.

It was decided at the debriefing that the Emergency Operating Centre (EOC), in the Fire Service Headquarters, was the most appropriate central command centre.

The EOC, which is also the National Hurricane Committee Headquarters, has a range of secure facilities, including computer and fax, hand-held emergency radios, and international Ham radios, and satellite-phone capability.

There is also the possibility for ‘real-time’ aerial camera surveillance.

Modern technology for combating such situations was also employed during the bomb hoax.

The ‘Ion Scan’ machine, which is used at the airport to detect volatile material, was taken on board the cruise ship and used to test the ‘suspect’ and her cabin and belongings, which resulted in no detection of volatile material.

The use of other new technology, such as group text-messages to cell phones, was also employed during the bomb threat.

Increased attention to the minute details during any crisis was also highlighted, for every fact must be relayed during a crisis situation.

One example was the initial early-morning report from the American Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to Det Supt Michael Needham, who initiated the emergency procedures; while the name of the cruise line was known from the outset, the actual ship’s name (Victory) was not clarified for some time.

The responsibilities of all key departments, such as Immigration, were also discussed. These included the roles in processing, in conjunction with the local cruise agents, any cruise passengers who land in transit to an air flight.

The response and reports of other key Cayman Islands agencies, including the Fire Service, the Cayman Islands Hospital, and the Joint Intelligence Unit were also reviewed. These were all found to have been appropriate and on-target for such a scenario.

Several port emergency response initiatives are also currently under way. A ‘Joint Declaration of Security’ was recently drafted locally, and is about to be signed by the key agencies, including cruise ship operators.

The importance of providing clear, consistent messages to the press and public was also seen as critical, in order to avoid confusion and rumours.
The Deputy Chief Secretary reported that the Cayman Islands’ response had been commended in writing by the FBI as well as the cruise line and local authorities.

Applauding the efforts of the key agencies, and all involved in the real bomb threat as well as the communications exercise, Mr Ebanks concluded: “Perhaps the most obvious positive aspect is that we have a multi-agency response team which communicates, co-operates and combines resources to positively meet any crisis situation.”

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