Woman Fined $300 For Operating A Watercraft Over 5 knots Within 200 Yards Of The Shoreline

By Alric Lindsay

Sheica Melonie Gayle appeared in the Summary Court today, July 7, 2026, to face a charge of exceeding a speed of 5 knots within 200 yards of the shoreline.  She was fined for the offence.

According to Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, on November 9, 2025, two persons were observed on a wave runner by members of the Cayman Islands Coast Guard in the vicinity of Rum Point beach in North Side. Reportedly, Gayle was identified as the operator of the wave runner.

Allegedly, the Coast Guard spoke to Gayle about the offence, and, after she was released, she sped off again.

Arguing on Gayle’s behalf, defence attorney Stacy-Ann Kelly shared that 24-year-old Gayle recently moved back to the Cayman Islands after living in the UK for the past 11 years.

The defence attorney added:

… on the day of the question, they stopped her [and] advised her that she was travelling in excess, and she asked them, “well, if I am, what was the speed and how were you able to determine that?”

She said they then allowed her to ride off and told her that she should stay away from the shoreline and go further out in the ocean.

That is her recollection.

She doesn’t recall being warned of intended prosecution.

The defence attorney concluded by suggesting to the court that it order Gayle to perform community service instead of paying a fine, given that she is currently unemployed.

After Gayle spoke to the probation officer present in court, Gayle decided to pay the fine instead of doing community service.

Having heard the above exchanges, the Chief Magistrate fined Gayle $300 or spend three weeks in prison in default of payment.