The Editor,
The Anguillian newspaper
Dear Editor:
It is high time that the some of the Customs Department employees at Blowing Point, Anguilla realize that anyone boarding the Anguilla ferry from Marigot, St. Martin, has to pay the same departure tax and the same ferry fare to come into Blowing Point, Anguilla.
So why are some individuals, who are “tourists”, given carte blanche special preferential treatment, when they enter the the Customs Department in Blowing Point Harbor? To be more specific, they are allowed to walk through with little or no questions asked. However, upon my own firsthand observation and experience; Anguillan nationals as well as all others who are similarly situated are subjected to national origin profiling based on a disrespectful biased stop and search policy. Moreover, they are are blatantly subjected to disparate treatment and are treated differently to all those others who are similarly situated.
Is this the image that the little nouveau Anguilla wants to project towards your kit and kin? I’ll let you in on this little secret, you are probably the laughing stock among those individuals who are given preferential treatment, because of the lack of disrespect that you have for your own kit and kin by bloodlines or socio-cultural familial ties.
Once upon a time in my urban city, major department stores were only profiling certain customers as potential shoplifters. Guess what’ not only did their merchandise continue to disappear en masse, they finallyrealized that the folks who were not being profiled as thieves, were the ones who were shoplifting their merchandise. As far as I am concerned, it was payback for ignorance and stereotyping of certain individuals as potential shoplifters.
Upon information and belief, the customs’ employees are probably asked to implement the special preferential treatment that is given to “tourists” when they enter the Customs Department in BlowingPoint Anguilla. Does anyone in the tourism sector believes, or is under the illusion that a biased stop and search policy (that only applies to Anguillans and other folk); will give Anguilla any browniepoints among “tourists”? Truth be told, “tourists” have had to undergo a vigorous screening policy from their points of departure to board an aircraft before they arrive in Anguilla. So what gives?
Also most tourists who visit Anguilla are more than likely direhearted “Anguillaphiles” and would be more than happy to adhere to a search when they enter Anguilla Customs Department at Blowing Point, if that ever became necessary.
Little Anguilla’s Customs Department at Blowing Point would gain more respect and upgrade its image, by initiating and implementing a uniform customs policy, that provides fair and equal treatment for all. In other words, if you have a stop and search policy, let it be implemented across the board. Not only would it ensure that there is no contraband being brought into Anguilla, it would also ensure that much needed customs revenue for certain items is not being overlooked. At the end of the day, it is also an important security measure for the entire island of Anguilla.
Personally, whenever I am in Anguilla, I have absolutely no objection to a customs search. However, it is shameful to see a customs official turning my personal possessions upside down in full view of everyone. I am proud to say that I made some serious noise during the process, and you should have seen the startled gaze in the customs officials’ eyes’ I don’t have an image problem, so I called her on it, did not internalize it, had a meeting with Chief Customs Officer Hull and kept it moving.
Based on this issue of concern, may I suggest that dire-hearted community activists take turns being peaceful observers at Blowing Point Harbor (Customs) and make documented notes of your observations. How well do I remember the big turnout and support Anguillan nationals and others gave to protest the “Indians” pay issue back in the day? I trust that Anguillan nationals who are disgusted with the biased stop and search profiling, will organize peaceful demonstrations to protest this issue of concern that has an adverse affect on them.
In no way, should Anguillan nationals or other folk, be singled out for a biased stop and search profiling customs policy, that clearly will has become a systemic pattern and practice for stop and search profiling of Anguillan nationals as well as other folk. This kind of biased stop and search policy has absolutely no place rearing its ugly head in little Anguilla….an island where the populous are mostly people of the African Caribbean Diaspora. Moreover, this is how apartheid begins. I thought “massa’s day was done in Anguilla.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, courtesy and professionalism.
And for those who are now trying to treat us like second class citizens, when we arrive at Customs in the Blowing Point Harbor; it was the futuristic vision of an Anguillan, the late (David S. Lloyd) on whose shoulders your “upscale tourism” industry stands. He built the first accommodation for visitors who came to Anguilla back in the day. “Lloyd’s Bed and Breakfast” in Crocus Hill is still going strong. It was also his vision as the then legislator for the former colony; (secured the funds and supervised the construction) of our secondary school secondary school in Anguilla (formerly the Valley Secondary School), later renamed Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive High School. And that is why our children are able to achieve secondary education in Anguilla since 1954.
The tradition of entrepreneurship and homegrown Anguillan pride continues…his son David Lloyd (a pilot) owns and manages Lloyd’s Air Services at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.
In addition, Anguillans of honorable mention to name a few…the Father of our Nation (Hon. Ronald Webster) was also a visionary based on his leading the struggle for Anguilla to achieve its status as a quasi-British Overseas Territory during 1967 and beyond. It was the late Mr. Jeremiah Gumbs who ably brought Anguilla’s plight before the United Nations and built the first seaside resort in Anguilla at Rendezvous Bay.
It is our own Mr. Nat Hodge who publishes our only weekly newspaper “The Anguillian Newspaper”. It was the late Capt. Clayton J. Lloyd (Anguilla’s first pilot) who was a role model for our aspiring pilots…and that is why (Anguilla has highest number within the region).
Our airport is re-named Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport) in his honor.
It is a fitting tribute with homegrown pride that our own native son deserves.
I trust that the current Government of Anguilla, as well as aspiring political contenders take noticeof this matter of concern. Are we suddenly becoming second class citizens in the land that our forefathers gave us? Let us give each other the respect that we deserve, as it begins at home.
P.S Name withheld upon request. This article is the sole opinion of its author. Also, in no way is it meant to disparage any anyone employed by the Customs Department of Anguilla. I am just telling it as I see it.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
