Sustainability in Action - RCIPS
Driven by the Cayman Islands Government's commitment to sustainability, the Office of the Commissioner of Police has activated implementation of its sustainability initiatives, with a robust group of champions. This thrust aims to weave sustainability into the operations of the Office.
The OCP, which comprises the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) and the Cayman Islands Coast Guard (CICG) is headed by Chief Officer and Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton. Demonstrating his leadership and support, Commissioner Walton has risen to the occasion to assume the lead champion role. He is supported by Nancy Barnard, the Office’s Strategic Projects Lead, who has the implementation of the sustainable development goals as one of the principal accountabilities of her role.
The Start of Sustainability in Action at the OCP
The OCP joined the drive towards sustainability across government after reading Chief Sustainability Officer Jennifer Ahearn’s goals from 2023 and participating in her meetings throughout 2024. Her work sparked the OCP’s interest as it conveyed a profound message that how people live, act and interact can be healthily sustained.
This awareness led to a review of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and goal 16 – peace, justice and strong institutions resonated with the OCP, as it is at the heart of the mission of the RCIPS and CICG. Goal 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Undeniably, the work of RCIPS and CICG is pivotal to this goal for the Cayman Islands.
Prior to 2023, the OCP took meaningful steps towards sustainability. In 2022, the RCIPS welfare committee arranged the first order of RCIPS-branded (and personalised) stay-hot travel mugs for all members of staff. The OCP also started a recycling programme and in 2024 the Women in Policing Network, which works towards Goal 5 – Gender Equality was formally instated.
Signifying its commitment to knitting sustainability into its operations, the OCP’s Fleet Manager Martin Oakley works with Chief Officers to ensure vehicular assets are sustainable. The Office has also worked with Vampt Motors to obtain Hybrid vehicles. These efforts are significant as the transport sector is the fastest-growing greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sector.
Notably, in April 2023 the OCP and other CIG entities, were interviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers United Kingdom and Cayman regarding SDGs across CIG, and contributed to the Mapping Document for SDGs locally.
2025 and Beyond
On 1 January 2025, the RCIPS and the CICG transitioned to plastic-free in its kitchenettes, lunchrooms, and meeting rooms, with the aim of achieving Goal 13 – Climate Action, Goal 12 – Responsible Production, Goal 14 – Life Below the Water and Goal 15 – Life on Land. To enable this, each department, unit and station was consulted, resulting in the formation of a group of solutionists or champions. This widespread engagement embeds change management from within and will continue throughout the OCP.
Motivated to bring about change, the group convened their first meeting in December 2024. Ceramic plates, bowls, mugs, stainless cutlery, bottle brushes, straw brushes and drinking glasses were identified as immediate needs. At the same time, acting Estates & Procurement Manager has audited the existing stock of plastic and other non-sustainable items in the OCP stores and going forward no single-use plastic products will be ordered.
Continuing its excellent start to 2025, the OCP also rolled out its pilot recycling programme across the RCIPS and the CICG in January. In keeping with this thrust, staffers now have access to small recycle bins close to workstations, which can then be transferred when full to the large stackable recycling bins. These are available to each department, unit and station.
Acknowledging that the implementation process will not be without change management pains, the OCP has reiterated its commitment to further develop and extend its sustainability initiatives. The Office has noted that its champions are excited and motivated to undertake more sustainable actions throughout the year and beyond.
