Unleash the Police!

21.JUL.06
EDITOR: The unprovoked attack on a group of tourists during a trip to La Soufriere recently, gave me a feeling of outrage.

Before I migrated from St. Vincent and the Grenadines just over two decades ago, I made 48 trips to the top of that mountain and in those days, there was no such thing as an attack on any of the thousands of people who made the trip each year.{{more}}

I remember receiving a call from a fellow Vincentian about 10 years ago, he was very much alarmed. He simply could not understand what was going on back home with regards to the shocking increase in crimes against innocent people.

When the recent attack was carried in the American media, he called again to remind me that it had gotten worse, and in his words “very ugly.”

It has become a source of embarrassment to those of us who have worked so hard over the years to encourage our American friends to make St. Vincent and the Grenadines a vacation destination.

Judging from telephone conversations I have held with people in SVG, I believe that the Vincentian people are to be blamed.

Whenever the Police go after these criminals and extend the full arm of the law segments of the population cry “Police brutality,” and that affects the ability of the Police to fight crime.

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is a very decent man. I know that he respects public opinion. I am sure, however, that he is aware that even the best leaders sometimes have to make decisions that are unpopular. He is the Prime Minister – NOT THE POPE. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has an economy based on tourism. The success of the industry and the well-being of many Vincentians are at stake.

He should allow the Police Commissioner broad powers to go full blast after these criminals. If he fails to do so, it will be at our peril.

Ken Wyllie, (USA)