The Editor
The Anguillian

My husband and I were deeply touched and applaud you for your editorial of March 16th, “A Man’s Or Woman’s Home Is Their Castle”, in response to my letter to the editor about our burglary on March 4th. However, I am very discouraged with the progress of the investigations of those crimes you mentioned and of the increased crime since then.

Because of my letter, many people called me with their sympathy and have also informed me of other incidents. I now have counted 7 burglaries or attempted crimes in 3 weeks!! Those figures are only ones that I know of; how many other crimes have occurred in that time? Are there any statistics on crimes on this island? I think that 6 crimes in 3 weeks on an island of less than 15,000 people indicate that we have a critical problem! What will it be like in five years when the population is well over 20 thousand and the police no longer can identify everyone?

I know we have to protect our tourism industry, but let’s face reality; there will be no tourism if this situation continues to grow at the present rate. This problem needs to come out in the light in order to secure individual security. We agree with Nat’s editorial: “Members of the public should know what is happening around them so as to be on guard against any untoward act of criminality in all of its forms and how they should respond to such attacks.”

The expat community and Anguillans network in different ways. How can the entire community join together to address this serious problem? Can we sit back and expect the current tactics of this administration (or lack thereof) to bring results that will protect the people of Anguilla and their guests? We need action now, or jobs will be lost down the road. This is a critical time for Anguilla. Who will buy these expensive villas/condos when the crime gets even worse; who will have jobs and bring the groceries home then? Just look at the last 30 years on the islands of St. Croix and Jamaica where crime ruined their tourism!

We are becoming a lawless society. People from all sectors of our community will have to work together and stand up to what they know to be wrong. We can stand by passively and shrug our shoulders when those close to us become victims of crime or we can speak out for the changes that will be needed to keep us from the abyss.

Sincerely,

Althea and Bob Turner

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