More crime on Union Island in wake of Beryl

Union Island resident, Abdon Whyte, is calling on law enforcement to do something comprehensive about the security situation on Union Island.

Whyte is the Liaison officer in the Office of Grenadines Affairs, and was last July appointed by Cabinet to assist with the response and recovery effort on Union Island in the wake of destruction by Hurricane Beryl.

The category one system struck on July 1, destroying more than 90 per cent of infrastructure on the island.

Speaking on the ‘Issue at Hand’ programme on WE FM on Sunday, January 5, 2025, Whyte said the rebuilding work has been progressing well, but security is a big issue, and people are anxious and scared because of some of the things that have been occurring.

“…on the bad side of things- people don’t ever want to touch these things, but right now the community is a bit heated because we have been having a number of break-ins, and we have a number of persons who have been complaining about a number of persons who have been using this unfortunate opportunity to come to the island under the pretence of looking for jobs and are actually not,” Whyte outlined.

“…we have to call it what it is. They are engaging in some activities- stalking women, knocking on people’s doors at nights, and I know over this weekend they had a serious break-in where a guy reported that some guys went into his house and walked with his safe.”

Whyte said what he mentioned are issues about which people in the community are concerned, and these need to be addressed as soon as possible.

“People are trying to get their lives back together, and in every situation people look to make use of people’s misfortunes and it is a terrible thing,” Whyte stressed.

He pointed out that Union Island is generally a safe place where people live together as one community but now, some people are using the Beryl disaster to terrorize islanders.

“People have been calling on the authorities … and we as a community, to mobilize,” Whyte said, adding that while some people are putting the blame solely on outsiders, the people committing the acts must be getting help from those who live on the island.

“We as a people, we have to understand where we were, where we are, where we came from, and where we would like to be, and we have to be our brothers’ keeper,” Whyte noted.

He said the community is hoping to engage with law enforcement this week.

He pointed to the need for an action plan, and in the mix should be neighbourhood watches and other crime fighting initiatives.

“…they are trying to get some whistles so we can distribute it to a number of persons, ladies…” Whyte said, adding that they are calling for assistance to identify persons who do not live on Union Island, and are not working, with the intention of getting them to leave through some sort of legal mechanism.

“If you are not working, there is no need for you to be there…”.

Whyte said the police are doing all they can, but investigators are stretched.

“You don’t want a situation where persons take situations into their own hands.”

A member of the police high command said on Monday, January 6, 2025, that the issues will be addressed, as they are aware of some of the problems that emerged in the aftermath of the hurricane.