Every business needs good Public Relations (PR). In fact individuals often use PR. Governments need god PR but seldom employ it.

The exception is election time but even then it is often amateur but the political parties are now moving to be more professional and employ PR companies.

The knives are out once again for the Cayman Islands Commissioner of Police. David Baines, and if ever a police officer needed a PR person he does. His comments are woeful and the only time he seems to come across well is his interviews on CITN/Cayman27 where the questions and answers look carefully choreographed.

When the terrible recent boat disaster happened our commander in chief was absent on the television interview and two other officers were thrown to the lions. They were lucky the lions were only one in the shape of a very nice lady journalist who asked the right questions but let both of them off the hook after their unconvincing answers.

Commissioner Baines is very lucky he has had successive governors who have cuddled him from the wrath of some of the press and Members of the Legislative Assembly whose motives are questionable with an election looming.

The ridiculous and totally unscientific polls on some of the media websites suggest 75% of the Cayman Islands public want Baines removed. And this is not the first time.

I have to say that a large number of the comments on the media sites, especially relating to the tragic boating incident, revolve around passion and emotion and are a long way from common sense.

The Governor’s announcement of an “independent” inquiry into the incident is not going to appease anyone if the RCIPS are found to be blameless but I don’t suppose that will bother the members of this independent inquiry one bit. It will go down in the history books as exoneration. And the problem is, even if the exoneration is justified how many will believe it?

When the Members of the Opposition last Wednesday called for an emergency meeting of the Legislative Assembly to debate two private members’ motions, both surrounding concerns with policing, the Premier Alden McLaughlin incredulously made this announcement:

“These matters are not urgent and there is absolutely no reason to hold an emergency meeting to debate this issue as the House will meet in about four weeks and the motions will be debated then. Opposition members would not be able to form a quorum on their own and cannot hold the meeting without the Government’s agreement.”

The government Press Release said, “With regard to the independent inquiry into the missing boaters, the Governor has already stated that an Independent Inquiry will be held and intends to make an announcement on who will be conducted it shortly. The findings of that inquiry will be made public. “

The governor doesn’t seem to think the matter is urgent either as it seems to be taking a long time to convene this inquiry and when it does get going it will be even longer to announce a decision.

However, McLaughlin, seems to think otherwise and against all the evidence to the contrary and public opinion he says, “So there is no urgency to debating this matter and some may even say a motion that calls for an inquiry, which the Governor has already announced, is pointless.”

He may be right but as a Public Relations exercise it is a disaster!

PS: And I have just been informed the “LA motion on COP RCIPS put off until 13 April. Speaker off island.”

The Opposition Leader must be all smiles.