The events of CARNIVAL WEEK have left a large segment of the Anguilla community wondering why we as an island have come to this point in our development, when we can’t even go to a Queen Show without fear of being shot or otherwise put in fear of our life.

We have a problem! This situation has been brewing for quite some time and we can no longer allow ourselves to be Neroesque about the situation. As I wrestled with this question, a number of persons renowned for taking decisive actions came to mind and I have selected one of them as a metaphor for this article.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in Jamaica, Keith Gardener, better known as “Trinity” is an institution in Jamaica. He has the reputation as one within the law enforcement community who means what he says and does what he means. There is never any question over where “Trinity” stands or how he will handle a particular situation. Suffice it to say that any “bad man” (and Jamaica has real bad men) doing something contrary to the law and hears “Trinity” coming will take to the hills rather than confront him. The point I am seeking to make here is simple. We, as a society, must be of one accord as we seek to confront this lawlessness and terrorism. The task is not solely for the Police even though they are critical to the solution. Our elected representatives, clergy, parents and the community at large must shoulder our share of this task.

Our legislators need to take immediate and decisive action. I was heartened to hear the Hon. Victor F. Banks and Hon. Mc Neil Rogers in their statements of the past week give unequivocal support to the implementation of the necessary legislation to combat this terrorist behavior in our land. I am sure their colleagues are of the same mind. However, we cannot wait forever to see these measures implemented. We need only to see how the British and the Americans reacted when they were confronted with terrorism within their borders. We must be of a similar resolve. Laws and policies with serious consequences must be enacted without delay.

The command structure of the Royal Anguilla Police Force (RAPF) must begin to project this resolve. Until the legislation is passed, they must stop worrying about imaginary legal scenarios and get about the business of dealing with these known terrorists. The Governor who is the commander of the RAPF must take a page from Tony Blair and make it clear that if you commit a gun offence in Anguilla there will be no question of how you will be dealt with. If he doesn’t know how, all he has to do is call “Trinity”. The time for excuses is long past. We need action.

Our clergy must be central to the solution of this problem. Anguilla has the reputation of being a God fearing society and the time has come when the ministers need to ingrain their congregations as to what God expects of them in these times. Bishop Errol Brooks speaks of risk taking. In his homily of August 7th, 2005 he suggests that God expects us to take risks in life. God commands us to love one another and to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we as a Christian community were to adhere to this command, we will not stand idly by and let criminals destroy our community. We are required to speak out and do something. We must take the Risk. The time for “I don’t want to get involved” is past. We need to step forward and be committed.

Finally, we as a community must determine what kind of society we will live in. It was once said that evil can only thrive if good people do nothing. Moreover, if a situation demands action to do nothing is really to do something. This means that you are really siding with evil. So what can we do? I suggest that:

1. We make sure that our elected representatives provide law enforcement with the tools and manpower to keep our society safe.

2. We must support our law enforcement personnel in every way and demand that they be held accountable for dealing with the tide of lawlessness.

3. If you don’t wish to go to the police, go to your pastors, community leaders, elected representatives or even to the Governor with information which will put an end to this madness.

4. Parents need to be held accountable for the actions of their children. These problems start early and continue into adulthood.

In conclusion, the point of this article is simple. If we as a society do not take immediate and decisive action to combat this rising tide of lawlessness, everything that has been accomplished since the Revolution will be lost. We must remember that our only natural resource is tranquility. When that tranquility is lost, our tourists will stop coming, the hotels will close, our economy will collapse. If we think we have problems now, wait for that day. We are a people who have accomplished a lot with a little. This problem is nothing for us to deal with, but we need a “Trinity”. The “Trinity” is within each and every one of us. All we need to do is to come together and be of one accord and decide we are not going to take this crap anymore.

- Keithley F.T. Lake ESQ

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