Anguilla’s Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor, is encouraging all persons on the island to participate meaningfully in the current summer festival, while embracing peace, love and unity.
He was speaking at the opening night of the festival at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre on July 27 in the presence of a capacity crowd. “If we are going to be serious about denouncing and preventing any form of violence in the Anguillian society the time to do so is now,” he stressed. “Let us work together to prevent criminal activity and enhance security in our society. We can achieve this by collectively working to address the issues in our community that are causing our young people to turn to crime and violence. Let’s work together towards solutions rather than assigning blame and condemnation.”
The rest of the address by Commissioner Proctor is as follows:
“I must remind you, however, that as we celebrate this festive period, there are some families in our community who still mourn that loss of their loved ones, whose lives have been interrupted by injury or death as a result of violence.
“We have seen what the actions of a minority in our society are doing to our country. At the same time, the majority are hiding behind a wall of silence, only sporadically appearing to criticise and condemn those who are working tirelessly to take the fight to that minority engaged in criminal activity.
“Anguillabelongs to all of us and we should share in that ownership by not allowing that minority to blanket us with a sheet of fear, disrupting our lives, scaring away our visitors and creating unnecessary tension in our communities. In these difficult times we must take a collective approach to fighting this scourge of criminality. The fight must start now. Later might be too late for all of us.
“The Royal Anguilla Police Force will continue to work with its stakeholders and local law enforcement to lead the way in this fight. All that is required from you is your unconditional support in identifying those who commit crimes in your view.
“Let us start this summer festival to report all suspicious persons or activities to any police officer or police station. Let those criminal elements amongst us know we are taking action; and no longer will we tolerate their acts of violence in our communities and on our people. Let us work together to save this nation’s youth, our investments and our country, from the unnecessary press coverage that negatively impacts our tourism industry.
“The Carnival Committee, the Royal Anguilla Police Force and JTR Security Company have created a secure environment for you to celebrate and express yourself this carnival. We are going to be very vigilant and robust with our responses to any infringements of the laws of Anguilla. Therefore, persons involved in any violent acts, found in possession of any illegal weapons or substances during any of the events for carnival, will be extracted, arrested and charged. We are prepared to vigorously object to bail for those charged.
“We look forward to your cooperation as we work to ensure that all can participate in this ‘Cultural Explosion, Expression of Self’ for Anguilla Summer Festival 2012.”
