There is a crescendo of voices across Anguilla expressing concern with respect to the continuing spate of shooting incidents that cannot go unnoticed and without comment.
The situation is becoming so bad, and ridiculous, that if this gun violence is not just condemned, but somehow dealt with, and stamped out, with all possible urgency, the very stones may cry out. Worse, irreparable damage will be done to Anguilla and the tourist industry so many have laboured so hard, and spent so much, to develop; and on which so many, too, depend for a livelihood – not mentioning the Government and the economy.
How can we with a beautiful island, world class accommodation and dining facilities, eclectic cuisine, superb beaches, and a hospitable people, truly promote Anguilla as an up-market destination with gun crime, as it were, seeking to become the order of the day? Let us not fool ourselves. While violence is rearing its ugly head everywhere, tourists and investors have their eyes fixed on, and ears tuned to,Anguilla. To them, as well as to us, it is extremely difficult to understand how a small and serene island, like ours, can appear so violent and uncaring, by having a band of gun-wielding criminals with little regard for the preservation of human life.
There is a tendency to point fingers at the Police as if they, by themselves, have the power and even the magic to solve every crime on the island, however intricate a particular incident may be. Our local law enforcement officers have been able to make some progress but, without community support, and even the cooperation of the victims themselves (who are lucky to be alive), investigations cannot reach very far.As a result, there must be some frustration in the hierarchy of the Police Force especially, with both the public and the Government expecting more action in terms of arrests, charges and successful prosecutions.
The security of the island, the safety of its people and the protection of the economy and investment, are all important considerations in the fight against crime. While the Police are believed to be doing their best, within the limited circumstances and scope of their operations, they need all the help they can get to strengthen the arm of the law.
The shooters are behaving as if they have a licence. They are demonstrating a lack of respect not just for law and order, but for the Police who have the arduous responsibility for maintaining the peace and quiet of the island.The Governor’s Office and the Government must move to do something about the lamentable situation regardless the costs.
It appears that Anguilla is returning to the period when gun violence claimed the lives of a number of persons in such a manner that up to today there are several unsolved murders on the island’s records of criminal activity. While there had been a welcome relief from such tragedies, the island is now faced with the shooting death of a young man, who journeyed from one part ofAnguillato another to attend a sporting event.
Anguilla belongs to all of its citizens and residents who must be free to travel in safety wherever they wish. When this freedom is denied, it is a big reason for grave concern. The result is that there is now a growing fear among many persons about going to certain places and events on the island. Rightly or wrongly, their conclusion isthat it is better to remain at home.
Commentators havecompared the period referred to above, when a number of persons were shot to death, to these times when shootings have become rampant again. They point to the fact that at least two youngsters are now maimed for life, having been seriously injured; a number of others are recovering from wounds; and just a matter of days ago, one youngster has been killed.
Without casting any aspersions on the functioning of the local Police, whom they think simply need assistance, these commentators, who are part of the concerned citizenry, hold the view that when the British Police Officers were brought in, much of the serious criminal behaviour abated. Consequently, they are of the opinion that some other British Policemen should again be recruited.
What the persons making the suggestion argue is that whileAnguillacan ill afford increased expenditure at this time of financial woe, it is better to spend a million dollars to stamp out criminal activity than to have law and order overrun and besieged by gun violence. The Task Force to deal with this, and other maladies of crime, is already in place and functioning. It just needs to be further strengthened. This type of violence must be met with the greatest tenacity or else its menacing tentacles will grab up our small and vulnerable society.
The Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, and the Anguilla Tourist Board, have combined their efforts to call on Government to address the growing problem of shooting incidents. Elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian is their open letter to the Chief Minister to that effect.
There is an urgent need for the crescendo of voices, calling for action, to gain momentum against what appears to be a situation where misguided youngsters are shooting others with impunity as part of a gang war or otherwise. And the bad thing about it is that innocent persons can be caught in the crossfire, while the whole ofAnguillasuffers some very negative publicity and embarrassment.
