Just a few days before Christmas last year (2013) the Anguilla United Front made a press statement in connection with two incidents: the burning of ferry boats owned by Fun Time Charters and the senseless killing of young Romero Richardson. It read as follows:
It is becoming more and more obvious that as a community we have lost the social skills required to deal with our differences without the use of violent and destructive methods. It is also an indication of the shrinking value that we as a society place on one’s right to life and property. But above all, it highlights a blatant disregard by the perpetrators of these vicious crimes for the impact that their actions have on Anguilla as a whole. Our homeland is rapidly losing the appeal of a place that once touted with pride – the slogan: “Tranquility wrapped in blue”.
Unfortunately, on Sunday (13th July) we again learnt of the willful burning of heavy equipment owned by one of Anguilla’s top contractors — a young man who worked hard and developed a solid business over the years. Mr. Greig Hughes is an ambitious and assertive businessman — but he is also a person who is well liked and who gives back to his community as well. His testimonials in this regard are excellent and, as such, one would hardly expect that anyone could have a motive (however perverted) to try to destroy his property. But such is the nature of human beings that we can never really know what lurks in the deepest recesses of their minds.
Before this incident with Greig Hughes, there were the others with Chris Cutler; Calvert “Junie” Fleming; Rosmund Davis; and an attempted burning at Rebel Marine, owned by David Carty. All of these victims are Anguillians who have made major investments in our development. The amount of destruction to property in most of these incidents is in excess of half a million dollars. And because of the nature of all of these investments it also means the loss of jobs for a number of persons in their businesses. Equally important is the reputational damage these incidents could cause to Anguilla for both investors and visitors to the island alike. This kind of conduct is certainly not consistent with the mantra: “tranquility wrapped in blue”.
Most Anguillians have expressed outrage at all of these incidents. There is no difference in that sentiment based on gender, race, class, religion, or political persuasion of the victims concerned. That is extremely encouraging because they have overwhelmingly condemned the act — rather than questioned the motive. It is therefore obvious that the majority of Anguillians do not condone the willful destruction of anyone’s property — as a form of retaliation no matter the circumstances. We must conclude, therefore, that the right to the peaceful enjoyment of one’s property is as sacred as the right to life and the pursuit of happiness in our community. This is certainly in keeping with what is enshrined in our Constitution for all persons who live here as well as those who visit our island.
In this context, permit me to make a few points regarding my concerns about such incidents that should help us as a community to react appropriately. It is my view that our response in many cases can be even more damaging than the incidents themselves. Here are my suggestions: –
1. We should not jump to conclusions too quickly about the motives or causes for such criminal acts.
2. We should not get ahead of the Police and other agencies in conducting their investigation.
3. We should provide any information we have to the relevant authorities rather than to the victims or the victims’ family.
4. We should not contribute to any discussion that could have the effect of influencing persons to take the law into their own hands.
5. We should refrain from making public statements regarding the incident that may cast aspersions on the law enforcement agencies and the judicial system.
Though I am certain that there are several other points than can be made, we need to ensure that, despite their despicable nature, these incidents do not escalate into major social disruptions. I believe that the observance of these basic do’s and don’ts can go a long way towards keeping what could be an explosive situation under control.
I have been extremely careful in outlining the foregoing because, inevitably, there will be persons that should know better yet they become the facilitators of dangerous situations for their own selfish purposes. It is obvious that there is an increasing incivility and boisterousness in our communities. We should therefore not add fuel to fire by condoning the rhetoric of disrespect for law and order as well as for the agencies that preserve it. Such behaviour is irresponsible — and should be condemned at all levels, even if there are persons who truly believe that the rules are for everyone else but them.
The slanted accusations and insinuations that were almost instantaneously published after the incident last Sunday are therefore regrettable. Regrettable because they added a dimension to the incident that would have been better left unsaid — especially by persons who are in positions of leadership. Even worse, they detracted from the unifying expressions of sympathy and outrage — by bringing a callous flavour into the mix. It elevated the issue into the realm of politics and division, rather than use it as an opportunity to create national awareness of this criminal mentality that has the potential to destroy our island. Many persons have also expressed the view that it gave a bad smell to the entire incident — an odor that has overshadowed the outpouring of support for Greig in his time of distress.
By bringing in that dimension of politics it also caused many persons to reflect on the dangerous style of campaigning that is based on lies and half-truths — and is leading us into becoming a litigious society simply to defend our integrity. In those circumstances some of the perpetrators of such criminal conduct are in plain sight and readily identified — while in every case the perpetrators of destruction of property come like thieves in the night. However, the former may be even more dangerous than the arsonists and shooters — because it is very difficult to restore one’s good name even with money and apologies.
Solomon from his great wisdom, recorded in the Book of Proverbs, describes the dangerous nature of bearing false witness, or telling lies. Proverbs 25:18 tells us that: A man who bears false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword and a sharp arrow. In plain English: a liar is a dangerous weapon, perhaps far more dangerous than the perpetrators of the destruction of property. And, as a people, we should equally condemn them both.
