EDITORIAL
Guns Must Go, Before Tourism Does
Monday, August 23, 2004
If the past two weeks in the Cayman Islands have taught us anything, it is
that we might have easily survived Hurricane Charley, but we must now turn our
attention to a more threatening tempest, that of the increasing violent
crimes.
With three people shot - one of them murdered - in three separate incidents
here over a five-day period, it is evident that the winds of change are
blowing in the Cayman Islands.
There was a time, not so long ago, that three gunshot incidents would have
been a lot for an entire year here. Times have certainly changed, and so must
this society’s response to the storm that is upon us.
Some would dismiss the most recent violent crimes as isolated incidents,
however the year has already seen two gun-related murders in a 48-hour period
in the Scranton area of George Town and a stabbing murder in the same district
in July.
Violent crime has even touched us here at Cayman Net News, when one of our
reporters was stabbed during a home invasion in March.
Everyone understands that crime statistics are relative. In the neighboring
island of Jamaica, for instance, there were recently a total of 19 murders in
two days, as that country heads to what might be more than 1,000 murders for
the year.
Given Jamaica’s current social difficulties, and its much larger
population, higher numbers of crime are to be expected. While the Cayman
Islands will not show statistics approaching anywhere near the kind of
violence in Jamaica, we must recognize the unsettling trend of what is
occurring here.
Many tourists now choose to travel to Cayman because of its low crime rate
in comparison to other Caribbean nations. We have so far dodged the bullet, so
to speak, in that none of the violent crimes this year have occurred to
visitors. The Cayman Islands has been fortunate, but we cannot count merely on
luck in our approach to crime.
It is time to radically rethink our policies toward violent crimes, and we
can start with handguns.
After a spate of armed robberies last summer, the Leader of Government
Business, Hon McKeeva Bush suggested harsher penalties for a variety of
crimes, including possession of a handgun. While we do not agree with his
suggestion of mandatory life prison sentences for possession of a handgun, we
do agree that the crime should be considered very serious, and punished
accordingly.
If the Grand Court can sentence a man to a year in prison for stealing $15
from a tourist, surely the courts and the police can step up to stop the tide
of these violent handgun crimes, with the backing of strong legislation.
The police have initiated a zero tolerance policy on drug usage; it is time
for a similar approach toward gun possession.
It is also time for the return of some citizen initiatives, such as the gun
buy-back program initiated by the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce in
October 2000.
Funded by private and corporate donations, the Farewell to Arms programme
encouraged citizens to turn in unlicensed firearms to a designated pastor in
their district. Those turning in guns received vouchers redeemable at any
Chamber member store, some valued for as much as $500.
Crime Stoppers is another tool that can be used to help eradicate guns from
Cayman. Those who are aware of illegal gun possession can provide information
anonymously by telephone, and receive rewards up to $1,000 if an arrest is
made.
Guns in Cayman are now part of our reality. It will take a concerted effort
of the police, the legislators, the courts, private sector companies and
organization, and the general public to turn the tide of the swell of crime.
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