Dear Source:
Unfortunately for us the agencies in our government responsible for protecting the residents and keeping the peace seems not able to cope with the nightly discharge of all kinds of firearms. I lived in the area known as Garden Street, in the vicinity of the All Saints Cathedral and school. There are nightly discharges of firearms of different caliber.
When will the authorities responsible for our safety put a stop to this menace or at least contribute to the reduction of the incidences? When I have spoken to officials in the Police Department their response is "manpower shortage", the perennial excuse. I congratulate the Police Department for the successes they have listed and that Governor de Jongh alluded to in his Easter message to the territory.
The successes that the Police Department announced is good but that is what should be happening in the normal course of police operation. Is it that our expectation is that low, that by doing what is normal we have to exaggerate our accomplishment? Sure we may have picked up many firearms, how many arrest have been made? Then we have to consider the conviction rate, did the police do a complete job in preparing their cases for the Attorney General Office that the judges would not have to dismiss the cases? Are the police officers showing up to court? These are important factors that have been plaguing our criminal justice system. How is the Governor doing in addressing these real concerns of the public? When we read in the media of cases being dismissed due to deficiencies in the filing or that officers do not show up for their own cases. The Attorney General Office continue to complain about being short staffed or inadequately staffed; attorneys complain that they are not given adequate time to prepare cases. How is the Attorney General addressing these deficiencies?
The domestic terrorism that I mention herein is real. The criminal element apparently have no fear of being caught and when caught of being convicted and if and when convicted, of any punishment that would discourage their criminal behavior. Maybe the administration needs to acknowledge its limitation to address adequately and expeditiously the domestic terrorism that is holding this community hostage. Maybe we need to seek federal help. False pride does not solve problems good judgment and courage does. Rather than begging for money all the time we can seek other types of assistance, such as technical and manpower support. The collection of firearms reported is good but it has not stopped the nightly discharge of all types of firearms in the Garden Street area. I understand that other areas also are subjected to regular discharge of firearms. Are we going to wait until some tragedy occur to wake up and demand protection, and or take action? Maybe the residents could follow the residents of our neighbor Puerto Rico and show people power and pressure the authorities to act.
J. J. Estemac
St. Thomas
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