The Bottom, Saba — Leader of the United People Movement of Saba, Mr. Dave Levenstone, issued a press release on Sunday morning questioning the Government of Saba on the lack of security and safety at the borders of Saba.
Levenstone said that the latest developments and the incident last week—in which a passenger who left the island was intercepted on St. Maarten carrying three weapons in her luggage—show that Saba is not safe. This also means that contraband can be placed on a flight or ferry to Saba, and people can pick up the bags and walk free with illegal items, because there are no security checks when leaving or coming into Saba. What sense does it make to have security officers at both ports of entry without the tools they need to function?
I am calling on the Island Council to step up, question the government in a public meeting, and stop the nonsense that this is not their responsibility and is instead the responsibility of the National Government. The community needs to feel safe.
Levenstone questions how many illegal guns have entered the island, noting that we do not know. With a surplus in the budget, the Government should be able to purchase two scanning machines for the island. It is alleged that there is a scanning machine at the airport, but it is also alleged that the Commissioner responsible for the airport has refused to put the machine into use, claiming that the uniqueness of the island does not warrant such measures.
Just over a year ago, we all witnessed what happened here with the brutal murder of my cousin, the late Sheldon Johnson. Many promises were made following that sad occasion by representatives of the national Government as well as by the Island Governor. To date, absolutely nothing has been done to make our ports of entry safer.
Is it only around Carnival and Saba Day that there is a need for the Coast Guard and Customs to carry out searches at the airport and the harbor?
Levenstone said he is calling on the Island Council to demand clarity from the Executive Council on how they intend to make the island safe for its inhabitants and also for guests to the island. We cannot continue to have guns going through our airport and harbor as if it is KFC coming in and Saba Spice going out.
Levenstone said that, in his opinion, the Island Council should have already requested a public debate on the matter of the three guns confiscated on St. Maarten from a Saban resident, and required the Commissioner with responsibility for the Airport and Harbor to give an account of why the scanner is not installed at the airport and why no scanner has been bought for the harbor.
Levenstone is urgently calling on the Island and Executive Councils to take this matter very seriously and bring some form of tranquility to the community of Saba. People should not continue to worry about illegal guns wandering around the island.
For the United People Movement, safety and security are priorities going forward. Zero tolerance for criminal activities is crucial. Can you imagine having a harbor that, after 5:00 p.m., is open for Tom, Dick, and Harry to enter without any form of security? We can no longer talk about safety when absolutely nothing is being done. We are building a new harbor, and if we cannot take care of what we have now, God help us with the new harbor.
