Police Commissioner, Keithly Benjamin, has made available to The Anguillian the text of the address he will deliver at the upcoming opening ceremony of the Summer Festivities at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre.

Commissioner Benjamin

“The Carnival Committee in association with the Royal Anguilla Police Force is concerned about your safety and will ensure that all persons coming into the village are screened for illegal weapons and other objects that may be used to cause harm,” he warned.

“Security cameras are also installed and will be closely monitored to capture any incident that does not represent our culture and those involved will be dealt with. We will also be recording the street jams as well as erecting cameras in the Sandy Ground area for August Monday to minimise the risk of your fun being spoiled.”

Mr. Benjamin continued: “The Royal Anguilla Police is quite aware of the daunting task it faces in ensuring calm at our Summer Festival and that is why any challenge or resistance will be dealt with swiftly and professionally. It is disheartening that I have to make such statements, but it will be very depressing for those who seek to test the intended action. Similarly by way of reminder, it is not my intention to grant police bail to anyone who is arrested so you can save your family the trouble of contacting me and be prepared to make the application in court which will be resisted vigorously.

“Our culture can be depicted without stabbings, shootings, fist fights or criminal damage to our racing boats. Such activities can also result in serious injury to persons.”

With respect to the incidents at South Hill and Blowing Point, the Police Commissioner lamented “the scant disregard for life, the indiscriminate use of firearms and the senseless shooting of innocent persons.”

He went on: “The violence is tainting our country’s name and inducing much fear in the citizens who are contemplating whether they should come out and celebrate for 2007. The violence can only be successfully curtailed by everyone of you taking some responsibility and denouncing the wrong. You cannot continue to allow a few hooligans to imprison you or restrict your free movement by failing to get involved and expect us to carry the burden alone.

“In spite of the recent unfortunate incidents, the members of the Royal Anguilla Police Force will be relentless in trying to ensure a safe environment for this Summer Festival as we remain committed to our task.

“We will be vigilant and ready to suppress any provocative behaviour designed to ensue in a violent scene between rival factions. Whether you live in the Valley, Blowing Point, East End or South Hill, you have a right…to move freely and we will be there to assist in making that experience enjoyable.

“Therefore a further appeal is being made to those friends and supporters of Devon [Ryan] to desist from taking retaliatory action because more innocent lives may be lost in the process. We seek your assistance in bringing the cowards to justice. Secondly, I encourage all law-abiding citizens to take some action by persuading your brothers, sisters or friends to leave the weapons at home because the life you save may be your own or that of a relative.

“Finally, I take this opportunity to express my condolences to Devon’s parents and family and emphasize with the wounded and their family as they continue to recover.”

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