Who steals his neighbour’s water, and who stands by and says nothing?

When I left my house here at the end of April, the cistern was more than three quarters full - approximately 35,000 gallons. However, when I returned on July 27, I was presented with a bill for US$270 for a 5000-gallon truck load of water which my Anguillian house manager (whom I will call “M”) had to buy.

She needed the water for my friends/colleagues who were coming to Anguilla and for the preparation of the house. They had won the week in “Paradise” at the Christmas raffle from which the proceeds went toward the medical bills for “M” who had been quite ill.
When “M” returned to Anguilla after visiting her brother in St. Kitts for 10 days, she found the cistern completely empty (not just low, completely empty). The industrial-sized hose that extended from the Cul de Sac Road to my house was still on the ground.

“M” went to the police station at Blowing Point to report the theft while the hose belonging to the thief was still there. The policeman on duty asked her if she knew who was taking the water and she said she did not know who it was. She was told there was nothing the police could do if she didn’t know who the person stealing her water was. The police didn’t even come to the house to see the hose or look for clues that might help them to find the thief.

To deplete my cistern, a regular water truck would need to make 6-7 trips, a small truck even more. Did anybody notice anything in this small community?
I had my house in Anguilla for almost 30 years. In that time it has been broken into 9-10 times. Cash from my friends and family has been taken, as well as all my outdoor tools, wheelbarrow, the mast and sail for my sunfish boat and the interior of the house completely vandalized. This has been the most egregious theft since it happened basically in front of everyone.

Who else have had their water stolen by these thieves who couldn’t even leave some for personal use? Who helps the thieves?

Thanks Mr. Editor for the space.

Beverley Mikuriya
1102 Buckingham Way, Mornsville,
PA 19067, USA
Or

Cul de Sac, Blowing Point, Anguilla
215-295-7930 or 215-869-5867
Cc His Excellency, The Governor

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