On Cayman27 last night (Wed 21) Jerrin Carter blasted the RCIPS for their seemingly slow response to his call to them for assistance.

Carter, who was at the helm of the 14 foot aluminum vessel Tuesday night (20 March) that was in distress. He was the person who called them.

“Once you have problems, the RCIPS, the Marine Unit, and everyone else that is entitled to search and rescue will literally wait until you are dead to give you a helping hand,” Carter said when being interviewed on Cayman27 news.

He said he called 911 for help after an engine failure left him, his brother, and his cousin stranded, but he says 911 dispatchers told him instead to call a friend for help.

Cayman27 played the audio of a message re the incident on marine radio. It said:

“They were quite in dire straits, they called for assistance. So we don’t have anything here to respond to them, but we are asking anybody else in the area if they could assist at the main south sound channel.”

Carter said he did get help, but nothing from the RCIPS. He had told them he had hurt his foot but there was no ambulance waiting for him when he got back on land. He had to get a friend to take him to hospital.

At no time did any police officer visit him.

The RCIPS sent out a lengthy press release giving their side of the incident see iNews story “Vessel-in-Distress reported off South Sound Tue Night, 20 March”. That in itself speaks volumes.

The red flags in all this are:

1. The vessel in distress was a small, low aluminium boat. Although not taking in water, the waves were “picking up”.
2. The men were not wearing life jackets.
3. One had an injured foot.
4. Over half an hour had gone by and no police marine vessel had yet been launched.
5. No ambulance had been called.
6. No follow up by the police.
7. Lengthy police statement issued.

One can only thank God everything ended well.

I hope all concerned will review and learn from this.

To go out on a small boat at night and no one wearing lifejackets is insane.

For a small island, surrounded by water, and no marine boat at the ready is insane.

It is not alright for the RCIPS to assume the private sector will come to assist. “Enlisting the aid of other mariners is a regular practice, as marine officers are not on duty 24 hours a day. We respond to emergency situations, but response at times when marine vessels are not already on the water will take longer.”

If the incident had ended in tragedy there would have been a major inquiry. There was blame on both parties.