In a high day incident in the middle of last week, in Anguilla, masked and armed intruders, forced their way into a home and mercilessly beat up a young woman. They inflicted serious wounds to her head. Apparently knocked out, she was left in her bathroom probably for dead. Needless to say this hair-raising occurrence spread fear and anger among the citizenry.

But it was certainly not an isolated incident. Unfortunately, it is part of a sickening trend of violence and crime that continues to stark this otherwise peaceful and small society in which a number of persons have suffered injuries and varying forms of aggravation by burglars and other intruders.

Week after week, the police report a rising series of burglaries and robberies by youngsters in various parts of Anguilla, while still insisting that the crime level in Anguilla is low when compared with that of other neighbouring islands. That hardly brings one any comfort because who can really predict whether or not there will eventually be an escalation of this and other types of criminal activity which may put us either on the same level of those islands or beyond the happenings there. It is no joke. Those committing the offences are becoming bolder and more aggressive, some carrying out their evil machinations in neighbourhoods in broad daylight.

Our Police Force, with all of its manpower, skills and equipment, is stretched to its limit but, thankfully, is making inroads in the apprehension of offenders. The Probation Department is under pressure; the Magistrate’s Court is busily handing down sentences and Her Majesty’s Prison is “bursting at the seams” with little or no room for young offenders who are sadly misguided Anguillians. The untenable situation cannot be allowed to continue because, perhaps one day soon, the question may be asked, if not already, ‘Who is safe?’

When crime and violence raises its ugly head in any society, it becomes a haunting experience and sometimes graduates into a nightmare. We certainly do not wish to see this in Anguilla. There is an urgent need for all stakeholders (in the development and peace and quiet in the society), comprising Government, Opposition, the Church, various groups and organisations and individuals in leadership positions to take proactive steps and measures to work towards halting this growing malady in our midst. Now is a good time, when the electioneering campaign is taking place throughout the island, for political candidates in particular, to forcefully condemn crime and violence and to articulate in clear and unapologetic terms how they would deal with the situation.

It must not be allowed to thrive and become a scourge and mockery in our society. Let there be a crusade by all to set Anguilla free from crime and violence and to assure our rising generation, and those coming after, a place where, like traditional Anguilla, peace, love and safety, abounded in full measure.

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