Statement from Her Excellency the Governor

It is with regret that I announce that the Commissioner of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Mr David Baines OBE, will leave his post at the end of May 2016, one year before the end of his current contract. The recent barrage of unfair criticism and defamatory comments has undermined the Commissioner’s authority to the extent that his leadership of the RCIPS is no longer tenable.

The Commissioner continues to have my support and will do so until he leaves his post. On his departure, Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis will be the Acting Commissioner of the RCIPS until a new Commissioner is appointed. The recruitment process for this post will begin shortly.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the dedicated service that Commissioner Baines has given to the Cayman Islands over the last seven years. Crime statistics show that over this period the Cayman Islands have remained amongst the safest communities in the Caribbean. In addition to leading the RCIPS with professionalism, Commissioner Baines has made a significant contribution to policing in the wider Caribbean through his chairmanship of the Caribbean Chiefs of Police group and his leadership of work on firearms and gun crime for all of the Caribbean Overseas Territories.

Ensuring the security of the Cayman Islands is a responsibility we all share. The RCIPS needs and deserves the support of our community to do their vital work.

The appointment of the Commissioner of the RCIPS is the responsibility of the Governor. The budget for the RCIPS is provided by the Cayman Islands Government.

Commissioner Baines took up his post in June 2009.

Commissioner Baines will be paid what he is entitled to under his contract.

Premier acknowledges departure  of Commissioner of Police

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin has been in continuing discussions with Her Excellency Gov. Helen Kilpatrick about a range of matters of concern at the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.

Because of the ongoing public criticism of and comments against him, the Commissioner of Police Mr. David Baines will now leave his post at the end of May 2016, a year before the end of his contract. “It is unfortunate that the recent motions filed by members of the opposition in the House concerning policing have put us in this predicament,” said Mr. McLaughlin.

“Essentially Government is going to have to pay Mr. Baines for the remainder of his contract while the Cayman Islands has no Commissioner of Police in place and, given the reaction of the opposition to Mr. Baines, we may find ourselves in difficulty in filling the role quickly,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “Additionally, with Deputy Commissioner Stephen Brougham scheduled to leave the service in September, leadership of the RCIPS will present a real challenge until these vacancies in two of the top three positions are filled.”

Mr. McLaughlin added that, “Although the irresponsible actions of the opposition have made the task more difficult, the Government will continue to support the RCIPS, Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis who will act as commissioner in the interim, and work with Her Excellency to ensure that the Cayman Islands remains one of the safest and most secure jurisdictions in the world.”