Just when there were reports that the British Police officers were leaving Anguilla at the end of their contracts, there was the brandishing, bang of the gun and shooting death of an innocent woman by would-be robbers. Not only Elaine Phillips, but prominent citizen and businessman, Abraham Harrigan, could have been a dead man also. What an awful tragedy and experience it was for him to see his girlfriend cut down at the cruel and merciless hands of bandits whom he described as young men! For God sake and for the sake of Anguilla this “Wild West” madness must stop.

The firing of shots three nights later at Grillers Bar and Restaurant, resulting from what police said was an altercation between groups of young men, could also have sent some hapless person or persons to their untimely death. What will happen to Anguilla and its people if these severe acts of crime were allowed to continue, particularly if the criminals were to think that the island’s law and order machinery is weak and faltering?

Anguilla was once a poor and quiet island where the petty offences included indecent language, which is no longer considered an affront to law and order and public decency. And some persons, especially young people, seem to take pride and the freedom in uttering the biggest curse words in their demented and abusive vocabulary. Unfortunately, our economic development has brought with it increased crime. Some young men, who should be glad to work, earn and ambitiously improve their quality of living, seem hell bent to follow the paths of crime and the short-cuts of life. Thus drugs, guns, robbery and other crimes are fast becoming the order of the day. No one would feel a sense of safety if these evils were to take control in a little developing gem like Anguilla. We must stem the tide of escalating crime or face decay and the worst imaginable consequences.

The announcement in the House of Assembly last week by the Chief Minister that the Anguilla Government would retain the services of some, if not all, of the British police officers, now on the island, following the end of their present contracts, has island-wide public support. The people are calling not only for all four officers to be retained to give their support to the local force in the fight against crime, but if necessary for others to be brought in. Some persons declare that they would rather live in a police state than in one overrun by criminals.

The Government has a duty to protect the security and good name of Anguilla, its people and investments. There are several places in the Caribbean whose Governments have had to recruit British police and US FBI agents to bolster their local police forces. There is nothing shameful about this, but it is rather praiseworthy that those regional Governments are sensitive and responding to the crime situation. There are opportunities for plenty money in Anguilla. The Government must use some of what is available to effectively police the island regardless of the cost; and the British Government, which has responsibility for internal security and defence, must be prepared to provide financial and manpower support as required.

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