The Anguilla House of Assembly has pledged to establish a new task force to confront the island’s escalating gun violence.
The announcement in a joint statement on behalf of assembly members on 21 May follows two gun-related deaths and at least two other reported shootings in recent weeks.
It described the gun crime as having left Anguillians and visitors alike with “a deep sense of sadness, loss and insecurity”.
“This is not the Anguilla we know and this is not the Anguilla to which we aspire,” the statement, signed by both Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge and opposition leader Ellis Webster, said.
It went on to explain that the new task force will include members of the assembly, civil society and law enforcement officials.
The group will advise the government on implementing the recommendations of the Select Committee on Gun Violence and will take the lead on legislative efforts to reduce and prevent further violence.
Recent gun violence
An 18-year-old man was shot multiple times outside the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal on Tuesday, 6 May, leaving him in critical condition in hospital.
Three days after the incident, on Friday, 9 May, two people were killed in two separate shooting incidents in West End and North Valley.
Then on 14 May, shots were fired at a Blowing Point home at about 2.40am – no injuries were reported.
Both sides of the House expressed condolences to those directly affected and committed to working together on prioritising and progressing actions needed to address the crisis.
“This is not solely a government problem, nor is it solely an opposition or even a United Kingdom Government problem,” the statement read.
“This is not solely a young people, family or a civil society problem. This is an Anguillian problem.”
It ended with a rallying cry: “Together, with hearts and souls, we must and we can rebuild our nation. We echo the powerful refrain of our students in the United Kingdom: ‘Anguilla! We are in this together.’”
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