The other day a group of developers called a press conference to apprise the media and, by extension, the people ofAnguilla, about their intention to have at least one component of their project off the ground before too long. A spokesman took care to state that the international company was expanding itself intoAnguillafor two reasons. One was that the island was a low crime and high-end destination. The second reason was that Anguilla was a British Overseas Territory and therefore it was considered a safe place for foreign developers to invest in.
Both reasons are of significant importance for the Government and people of Anguilla to consider at this crucial period. On one hand there is an upsurge of criminal activity on the island, with two murders having been committed in different parts of the small society within less than forty-eight hours – adding to sporadic shootings and other violent incidents. On the other hand, there is increased talk by Government, and some of its die hard supporters, about independence – a moving away from the fold of safety for which Britain has responsibility.
Unfortunately, at the risk of furthering the bad publicity, which has already engulfed our touristic island, the people ofAnguillaare virtually in a panic situation which must be urgently addressed. To allow this sad state of crime to continue would be all too damaging to our island’s reputation, its peace and quiet and its development possibilities. This is especially so when there is evidence to suggest that the malady is being caused by small cliques of misguided youngsters, with certain personal grudges and vendettas, who need to be strictly called to order by both their families and law enforcement authorities.
No response to the spate of violence has evoked such a serious and heart-breaking complaint, from the public, than a petition (signed by over 700 persons) submitted to the Chief Minister this week. It reads in part: We want you to know that we, as a community, have been hurting for a very long time and are particularly upset that Government has been preoccupied with other issues that we do not consider to be of an urgent nature. Our communities are impatient and angry [with the spate of violent crimes]. They consider this to be the number one issue that we should be addressing at this time and believe that any issues are a distraction to the serious challenges facing our country.
The people ofAnguillacannot be clearer in expressing their concern than that.The truth is that, while the Chief Minister said at his press conference on Tuesday that he had long been concerned about violent crime on the island, he and the Government have been slow in openly condemning the perpetrators, crime and drugs, for whatever reason. The petition shows that the public has taken note of this important lapse in good governance and is now calling for Government’s attention to what the Chief Minister himself has in fact dubbed “a national crisis”.
The petitioners have echoed what the rest of the population also believes. It is that Government has been preoccupied with other issues…not…of an urgent nature. One of those issues is the apparent craze for independence. The seriousness of the petitioners candidly shows that, right now, the race for this status is both unnecessary and risky at this time. Of course, the Chief Minister’s view, as expressed at his press conference, is that if Anguilla was independent he could askCanadafor assistance with crime. This appears not only to be far-fetched, but it would seem that he has not even considered that he should ask theneighbouring CARICOM countries where he has so often carried his complaints.
The petitioners are to be commended for their stance. It should not only be an encouragement to the rest of the public to demand Government’s attention to the more serious matters of state, but also to join in the fight against crime. Nothing can be more effective than the public coming together with the Police to solve crime – to tell what they know about it – and thereby bring about punishment for the guilty and community peace.
The petitioners have not said it, but the tone of their petition also points to the need to have an island which developers, like those referred to above, consider a safe place to entrust their investment. It has been noted that, apart from the opulence of Anguilla as a tourist destination, developers are also attracted to the island by reason of its status as aBritishOverseasTerritory. Whether the Government wants to risk investor confidence, in a place which is obviously not ready for independence, is a matter for wise judgment by Government and the people of Anguilla.
What matters now is the urgent need to stem the crime wave inAnguillaand to address the cries of anguish in the community as demonstrated in the petition referred to earlier. Those cries should be heeded to avoid the untenable situation at Island Harbour where an angry mob appeared to have wanted to take the law into their own hands to avenge the murder of one of their villagers. It is something to discourage for the good of the Anguillian society.
