Imported firearm – more questions than answers

(CMR) The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) informed Cayman News Service yesterday that a shotgun that CMR mentioned in a previous article was in their possession.

This revelation, in part, has answered two of many questions that we have asked about the circumstances that led to that firearm being confiscated from the home of Blake Ducharme earlier this year.

Now we know that the firearm does not belong to Ducharme but in all likelihood belong to his boat captain. The police also confirmed that “weapon was lawfully licensed to an unnamed individual who had arrived in the Cayman Islands from the United States on Ducharme’s boat”. This information is incredibly helpful. However, it leaves many more questions unanswered.

As CNS shared, they received a short response to their questions. The unanswered questions in our minds remain as follows:

• Who does the firearm belong to?
• Why have no subsequent arrests been made?
• What caliber firearm is it?
• What amount of ammunition was found?
• What date was the firearm found at the location?
• Is the firearm registered in this jurisdiction? If not, what jurisdiction is it registered in?
• If registered, why does the RCIPS alleged to still have the firearm?
• Was the firearm ever declared upon entry to the Cayman Islands?
• Is it legally permissible for someone to have a firearm in their home/possession that is not registered to them and they do not have a gun license?
• Has anyone else been arrested in relation to this firearm

Stating that a firearm is registered but being unwilling to state that it is registered in the Cayman Islands appears deceptive. A firearm licensed elsewhere does not make it licensed in this jurisdiction. In fact, we have very strict criteria about the storage and handling of firearms which appear to have not been followed in this case.

We know that the strict gun laws in the Cayman Islands would normally cover a firearm being in someone’s possession as one offense and ownership is a completely separate issue. For example, the other examples of police having arrested visitors with firearms made it very clear that a firearm lawfully registered in the USA would not absolve one from the laws of this country. There’s no logical reason why the gun would have been registered here since it was transported from a private jet to a private home.

CMR sources indicate the gun was never declared to customs. Is that not an offense as well?

The captain of the boat on which the gun originated has been on the island at least on three other occasions since the weapon was found. Has he been arrested? Is he being charged with any offenses?

CMR has submitted a serious of questions to the RCIPS on the matter which they have refused to answer. So we have only been left with the ability to ask questions and further speculate as to what truly transpired. The people of the Cayman Islands deserve complete and full transparency; especially from the RCIPS and DPPs offices.