These days it is heart-warming to observe that there is a most welcomed lull in the commission of serious crimes in Anguilla. This is certainly a relief from past incidents when there was much worry among law enforcement agencies, government, the people and even perhaps investors. And yet, on a scale with other places elsewhere, criminality in Anguilla has never really reached a level where we found ourselves twiddling our fingers in despair, but we must not be complacent.

The reality of the situation is that, given our economic and financial dilemma, we cannot endure or tolerate any rise in the rate of crime any more than we can withstand a destructive hurricane. And we fervently trust that the latter will stay away from our shores. We must prepare ourselves to deal with crime in the same manner in which we are constantly preparing for the advent or aftermath of a storm.

Although there are still areas of crime to address like burglaries, which are thankfully on the decrease, unlawful sexual offences and drug-related cases, there is a need to give thanks. We must thank those in our community who abstain from crime in all of its forms; those who are reforming their lives; members of the public who have become more sensitized to the importance of the rule of law and security and are providing intelligence information; and a debt of gratitude is owed to all ranks of the Royal Anguilla Police Force who perform their roles as guardians of law and order under very difficult circumstances including personal risk.

There is another important set of people to thank: the Judiciary. They have the unenviable task of interpreting and administering the law and to hand down judgments and sentences which are fair and at the same time strict. It appears that the Criminal Code, which embodies a set of laws, is rigorously being adhered to as the high fines being imposed in various cases before the court suggest. It is no longer a “slap on the wrist”, and it is not because the Treasury needs the money, but that the rule of law must be respected. There is no doubt that the imposition of the stiff fines, observed recently, is a deterrent to crime on the island and if this is a cleansing process to that end which is now taking effect, so be it.

The truth of the matter is that the ugly head of crime must not be allowed to rise in our society. Given the severity of the court sentences, now, only a fool and daredevil will deliberately break the law.

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