It is becoming increasingly clear that some of the burglaries reported in Anguilla have a cross-border involvement from St. Martin. It is understood that investigations are now taking place in both islands relating to a recent burglary at East End, here in Anguilla, where a motor cycle and other items were stolen from a residence. To add insult to injury a fishing boat, which later disappeared from Sile Bay, was discovered abandoned and wrecked in Grand Case. It is said that motor cycle wheel tracks were found at Sile Bay. The suspicion is that the boat was used to ferry the loot across the water.

This is only one of a number of covert but complex burglaries in which cross-border involvement is suspected. The police recorded an incident a few years ago in which some persons who came over from St. Martin were charged with an attempted daylight robbery; and more recently another incident in which there was a shoot out between the Anguilla police and some men who illegally entered the island at night in a boat from St. Martin.

These and others are unfortunate incidents involving two neighbouring islands which have long enjoyed a good relationship, where the people have been considered as one people and in many respects have shared a helping hand. It is believed that there is complicity between elements on both islands in some of the incidents and this is regrettable to say the least. No Anguillian, belonger or resident should compromise the safety of the island by conspiring with off-island burglars to plunder Anguilla. Correspondingly, nobody from any of the neighbouring islands should violate the territorial integrity of Anguilla, sneaking in and out of the island and making off with stolen goods, leaving their victims bewildered and their sense of security shattered.

There is a need for a closer and more vigilant cooperation among law enforcement agencies in Anguilla, St.Martin and St. Maarten to deal with situations like those outlined above. This may call for more patrolling of beaches, bays and borders, but whatever it takes something must be done urgently to control the situation in which Anguilla seems to be getting the worse. People with useful information and who themselves may be victims later, should tell the police what they know. We need to act now.

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