For the first time there has been a meeting between the Commissioner of Police and politicians in Anguilla to discuss issues of gang violence affecting the island and how the problem could be addressed.
The meeting, on Tuesday this week, followed one held last week attended by Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes; Curtis Richardson and Brent Davis representing Road South, specifically the Blowing Point area; Leader of the Opposition, Evans M. Rogers, and Sutcliffe Hodge, representing Valley North.
The politicians undertook this time to meet with Commissioner Rudolph Proctor to hear from him what assistance the Police might requirein dealing with the feud mainly involving youngsters fromNorthValleyand Blowing Point. The concerns are in relation to shooting incidents which have resulted in serious injuries to a number of youth and the recent death of one youngster.
Mr. Proctor told the politicians: “Burglaries, thefts and robberies have been the main offences affecting the island. But now we have shooting incidents where persons have been serious injured and we currently have a murder resulting from one of those incidents. While we are dealing with some drug issues, they are not a major concern at this time.
“What I am glad to see happening is the coming together of yourselves as political representatives and operatives. What you should do is to speak out and send a direct message out there that we are all concerned. Before now, it appeared that it was just the Police alone dealing with the matter. We need your assistance and that of persons in the community with useful information. We also hope that this meeting will not be the last and that we will always have your active support and presence.”
A meeting is being planned for June 14, at the House of Assembly Chambers, to include political representatives, church leaders and various community groups to arrive at strategies and a national consensus on ways and means of dealing with violence on the island.
Both Sutcliffe Hodge and Brent Davis made the point that it should not be seen that politicians are the ones leading the call for an end to violence, but that they in fact were working as citizens ofAnguillawith the hope that their admonition would be heeded. Mr. Hodge coined a phrase in which he stressed: “It is time to put the lives of Anguillian young men before politics.”
It is hoped, out of the coming meeting next month, a national group would be formed to spearhead the effort to promote harmony in the communities.
