The Editor
The Anguillian Newspaper

Dear Sir:

I would like to propose a couple of suggestions which may help to reduce crime on our island.

A few years ago there was a break-in at one of our local offices. The staff was asked to wait outside until police investigators checked the crime scene, including ‘dusting for fingerprints.’

I was never sure what was the purpose of ‘dusting for fingerprints’, because there were no other prints available for comparison. I would like to propose an idea for someone’s consideration. It could be helpful if all persons in Anguilla, aged 12 years and over, were fingerprinted. These prints would then be on record (fingerprint data base) for use by the crime-solving team. This plan would include any person coming into Anguilla for any purpose whatsoever. There should not be any objection to this procedure. The cost may be astronomical, but the results would be worth it. I travelled recently through the United States with a friend en route to Canada. She did not have a visa for the United States but possessed a valid EU passport. She was fingerprinted and also checked through the eyes. If we had a law, there could be no argument about having ths procedure done.

A second idea is the banning of any kind of firearms in Anguilla. (no licenses whatsoever, except for law-enforcement officers). Think about this! If you buy a car, you drive it, and enjoy it. Or, if you buy a boat, you sail it and have some fun. What would you do if you bought a gun? You shoot! That is the one and only purpose for a gun! Shooting injures, maims and kills people. If a law banning firearms on the island was in place, there could then be some real punishment for possession of these items. How about something like five years in prison for first offences, doubling for second and so on?
Someone with real expertise on these matters may be interested in commenting on the feasibility of contacting the right people with helpful ideas for possible implementation of these kinds of laws.
Praying, repenting and beseeching may be great for the soul, but if we don’t get some action, we will be here praying and repenting again next year and the next! As commented by former President Clinton (Oprah, Sept. 04/07), “we have to stop having meetings where you talk about your problems, and start having meetings where you do something about them.”

Thank you.

Concerned Citizen.

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