Threat to all The discovery of a large arsenal of firearms in a Cul de Sac home, described as a "serious blow to crime," is reason for concern. Of course, the fact that police were able to confiscate the guns with ammunition and arrest a suspect is good news, but it is also downright scary that such extremely powerful and deadly weapons, including several machine guns, are present and in criminal hands. With its many bays and beaches, along with the open border between the French and Dutch sides, the island is an easy target for illegal arms shipments that often go hand in hand with drugs. The more it is used as a transhipment point for the latter, the more weapons will find their way to St. Maarten. The number and particularly the violent nature of crimes reported in recent days and weeks add to the grim picture, especially when visitors to the island are among the victims. If St. Maarten loses its image as "The Friendly Island" because of attacks on tourists, positive developments such as today's signing of an agreement for the international hotel chain Sonesta to operate Maho Beach Hotel will be undermined. The situation calls for increased vigilance and decisive action against suspected criminals. The police are no doubt doing what they can, considering their lack of manpower and adequate tools. The community can contribute by getting serious about reporting suspicious movements to the authorities. Curaçao has been struggling for years with an increasingly serious crime problem resulting from the island's increased use as a major drug shipment point. The situation in St. Maarten has not deteriorated to that extent, but our island is also in a much more vulnerable position, because of its one-pillar tourism economy, which is by nature very sensitive to crime. Not only that, but by far the most visitors, in any case to the Dutch side, are Americans, to whom safety and security have become even more important following the 9-11 terrorist attacks. The increase in violent crime directly threatens the livelihood of all residents, because tourism dollars are practically the only income we have. Having said that, however, one must also recognise that there is no quick fix. In Curaçao they have now announced another grace period for people to hand in their illegal weapons without repercussions. Efforts in St. Maarten in the past to even pay for guns people handed in did not produce much. Prevention, in addition to intensified law enforcement, is what can ultimately make the difference. The plan to establish a "community school" to stem the rise in youth delinquency and the private sector's contribution to upgrade the drug rehabilitation centre Turning Point, both mentioned in today's paper, are steps in the right direction. The most important thing is that everyone realise that crime is not a problem of authorities, but of each and every one of us. Give us your opinion on this story Post a message on our message board! Click Here! Copyright ©1998-2004 The Daily Herald - Design by Dimitri2356