Reports have been circulating in Anguilla about four persons who allegedly jumped from a boat which approached the island’s southern border and swam ashore in the Maundays Bay area, despite the costly and strict covid-19 surveillance regulations.
The first public message from the Royal Anguilla Police Force on Monday, May 25, was that “at about 6.15 pm on Sunday, 24th May 2020 in Maundays Bay (Cap Juluca) a small blue boat with white engines, motoring in contravention of Anguilla Border Regulations, dropped four persons in the water about 150 meters from the beach. These persons swam to shore and entered Anguilla illegally.”
On Wednesday, May 27, the police sent out a second public message about the apparent above illegal landing. That message stated in part: “The matter has been fully investigated by the RAPF’s Major Crime Unit. They are satisfied, having examined all the evidence and interviewed a significant number of people, that this was not an illegal landing. But it was a local breach of current Border Regulations by persons who are resident in Anguilla.”
The message did not say whether charges were made against the persons.
The story of the alleged illegal entry caused much concern on the island as well as criticism of the police who are being assisted with enforcing the Border Regulations by Customs and Immigration personnel; recently-employed Special Constables; and other persons operating boats and aircraft, as well as persons guarding the beaches.
According to Government sources, the cost of the land, air and sea patrols is the region of eight hundred and forty EC dollars – provided by the UK Government as part of an assistance package to the Government of Anguilla.
Other British Government assistance has been in the form of 1.5 million US dollars, testing equipment and pharmaceutical supplies.
