Many things have certainly changed in Anguilla and in the majority of cases the changes are predicated on what is happening in the outside world and how the impact is transmitted here and to the rest of the Caribbean by whatever means or fashion. Take security for example. Never before, like now, has there been such a need to methodically screen persons and their baggage at the ports. The Anguilla Government, quite rightly, has had to comply with international security regulations and airlines’ requirements by going to much expense to put the necessary scanning machines and administrative systems in place.

The recent discovery of a plot in Britain to blow up aircraft, travelling from there to the United States of America, using liquid explosives, has added an even more cunning and ridiculous threat to security. No time was wasted for precautionary measures to be taken and to be enforced, thus adding another difficulty to travellers. As usual, Anguilla is not immune from the new regulations and inconvenience.

The fact was driven home this week when a package of crayons and calligraphic pens being carried by a child, an obvious lover of art, was taken away as she went through the security gate at Wallblake Airport to board a flight in transit to the United States. The child was sad, but quickly understood how important it is that nothing is left to chance and gets overlooked when security issues are at stake. One person remarked “only a bird is safe to fly these days.” The truth is that when everybody and their baggage are screened and allowed to proceed, all persons travelling on an aircraft can feel a sense of security and wellbeing, barring any technical failure or pilot error.
There are several issues of security facing Anguilla. These include the protection of our territorial waters from drug trafficking and other contraband activities, importation of firearms, illegal fishing, other maritime crime and cross-border crime. Not to be outdone is insecurity which is affecting our prison – a present situation in which three prisoners are now on the loose since on August 3 when they escaped by cutting through a gate on the residential cell block and clipping their way though the perimeter fence. Prison escape here seems to be a growing problem as there were previous escapes which have caused much concern on the island. There is a need to counter this by whatever means possible before it gets out of hand. One can only hope that the runaway prisoners, whether in Anguilla or elsewhere, are caught before much longer.
Here we would like to commend the law enforcement personnel for being able to ensure security on the island during the just-ended Summer Festival activities and those persons who exhibited good behaviour at the various functions. This is praiseworthy when taking into account the acts of violence and disruption which marred some of the events last year and resulted in much bad publicity for Anguilla. As an up-market tourism destination, we cannot afford for local security problems to even crop up, much less take centre stage.

Security must be our watch word in Anguilla and when the problems relate to international security our people must be prepared to cooperate with the regulations and those who enforce them. After all, we are living in an increasingly dangerous world and we must not let down our guard.

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