On 9 September, a contingent of sixteen police officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service left the Cayman Islands for deployment to the British Virgin Islands to provide law enforcement and humanitarian support. The length of their envisioned deployment is so unknown at this time.
“The British Virgin Islands have been devastated by Hurricane Irma, and they are in need of our help,” said Anthony Ennis, Acting Commissioner of Police. “Many of us remember Hurricane Ivan and the help that our sister territories provided to us during that difficult time. It is our duty and honour to reciprocate and do whatever we can to improve their situation.”
The deployment was coordinated by the Governor’s Office, the RCIPS Senior Command Team and the crisis team in London following an urgent request from the Governor of the B.V.I. yesterday for policing support. The RCIPS contingent is likely to be the first police reinforcements to reach B.V.I in the wake of the storm. The contingent left this afternoon on board a specially-chartered Cayman Airways flight for Barbados, where they will join UK military assets and government personnel also being deployed to the B.V.I.
The RCIPS police helicopter arrived this morning in Turks and Caicos, and is now providing vital reconnaissance and operational support to the authorities there.
Matthew Forbes, the Head of the Governor’s Office, deployed with the RCIPS officers to provide support to the Governor’s office in B.V.I.
“Clearly the B.V.I. and T.C.I. require significant assistance following the passage of such a devastating hurricane,” said Mr. Forbes, “and the Cayman Islands has responded swiftly in coordination with the U.K. to provide essential and practical support to those who have been affected.”