Most people would jump at the chance of a two-week freebie in the Caymans Marriott.

But for 11 weary Bermuda Police officers, who returned yesterday, their Caribbean getaway was far from luxurious as they put in a long sweaty slog staving off looters who were running rampant in the hurricane-hit island.

The team received the plaudits of various dignitaries but could be forgiven for wanting to skip the ceremony and head straight for the shower after enduring two weeks of primitive conditions during their mercy mission.

A team of public order officers and a firearms experts helped enforce a six o'clock curfew and keep the looters at bay after Hurricane Ivan devastated much of the island last month.

They were welcomed back at the Airport by Acting Governor Nick Carter who had heard regular reports from the Cayman and British Governments about how well they had performed in maintaining stability and law and order.

He explained the Caymans had been singled out for help from Bermuda, ahead of other hurricane stricken Caribbean countries, because it was a British territory.

Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith was glad to have his officers back and was proud of them. An alliance of reinsurance companies including RennaisanceRe, XL Capital, Axis and PartnerRe and airline NetJet made the mission possible.

Chief Inspector Michael DeSilva said he had enjoyed his first trip on a private jet but the rest of the trip had been anything but luxurious.

He said some of the local officers they had arrived to help had been working 18 hours a day after losing their homes and everything they had to the hurricane which had hit six days earlier. His officers unanimously agreed to not join the local shift pattern of two days on and two days off but opted to work straight through to get more work done.

The team worked every 12-hour night shift apart from one night off to get a break from the rice diet served at the hotel.

“With briefing and debriefing we sometimes worked 14 hours a day. We didn't have showers the whole time and were always hot and sweaty.

“Every morning we would go down to the sea. We would ration our drinking water to wash the salt off. “We developed a routine that worked for us.”

He said it was difficult to rest during the days in their rooms which lacked air conditioning, power and water while the island reverberated to the sound of buzzing chain saws and generators.

But he was not complaining. “Two weeks later, a little bit fatigued, we feel very privileged we had an opportunity to help in such a huge operations which involved so many different police officers from all over the Caribbean.

“Everywhere we went we would get stopped by people wanting to shake our hands and thank us. That made the job very easy but we are glad to back! I am off to get a shower, I will probably be under it for 45 minutes and then I will turn the AC up full blast.

The Bermuda officers guarded fuel, water and gas in mobile patrols while curfew got people off the street.

“The hurricane hit on a Sunday and by the Monday there was massive looting.

“We we armed when the occasion required - a couple of times we were looking for escaped prisoners who broke out during the hurricane.”

“Fabian was sensational because of the tragic loss of life but having seen this island Fabian was a gentle summer breeze. The hurricane was three weeks ago but the island is still a wreck. You are talking masses and masses of destroyed buildings, beach washed all over the road. I think our Regiment guys will be a big help.”

Sgt. Val Holder plans to make a pilgrimage back a year from now to see how the Caymans has re-built after remembering the hospitality of the locals, hundreds of whom were still in shelters after the hurricane destroyed homes.

He said: “At a time when there was nothing going on for them they extended themselves to us.”

Colleague P.c. Nigel Gittens said: “We always hear about the catastrophe hurricanes cause but to see it for yourself it was quite serious. It will take well into a year to fix.

“The people were receptive and friendly and made the job much easier.” Despite the hardship he is a fan of the island after his first visit. “I will go back for a holiday next year.”