There are concerns about the security of people and property in Union Island six months after Hurricane Beryl damaged or destroyed most of the buildings on the island.
The concerns come amidst reports that people have been knocking on the doors of women living alone.
In other cases, thieves have been making off with generators, even as many houses await reconnection to the electricity grid.
Both MP for the Southern Grenadines, Terrance Ollivierre, an opposition lawmaker, and Abdon Whyte, a Cabinet-appointed emergency response coordinator have commented on the situation.
On Dec. 30, 2024, Ollivierre noted to iWitness News in Union Island that police officers are on the island but people are concerned about personal safety after a 79-year-old woman was raped in her home.
He spoke to iWitness News after a conversation with another woman who had just returned to Union Island from St. Vincent and was yet to move back into her home, although the roof had been repaired.
“She raised the issue of security and that is why she has to go to the mainland from time to time because she’s here because of what happened to the elderly lady,” Ollivierre said.
He said the younger woman was concerned that people could enter her house through the space between the roof and the ceiling, which was yet to be blocked off.
“There is no ceiling or anything there so people could easily climb over there. … So, people are also scared of that in that houses are not being properly built. So, they fear that anybody could enter … to do harm. Because the lady who was raped, she had tarpaulins and I heard the tarpaulin was cut, and they entered into the house. So, there is also that fear factor.”
The MP said that other residents of the island would feel the same way.
He told iWitness News that there is a lot of stealing in Union Island.
“But what has become of it? Nothing. You hardly find they catch the persons who are doing these unwanted acts,” the lawmaker said, adding that security on the island should be strengthened.
“I know the policemen, they’re trying their best, but if it can be beefed up and you have better patrols, and so then you never know we might — things will be better.”
Meanwhile, Whyte, speaking on WE FM on Sunday, said that Union Island is “a bit heated, because we’ve been having a number of break-ins, and you have a number of persons who have been complaining about a number of persons who’ve been using this unfortunate opportunity to come to the island under the pretext of looking for jobs”.
Whyte said that some people are “stalking women, knocking on people’s doors at night”, adding that a house was burglarised on the weekend and the safe stolen.
He said that people have been taking to social media to highlight the issue.
Whyte said it is a terrible thing when people take advantage of other people’s misfortunes.
“Union Island, generally, is a safe place. It’s a place where people live together as one community. Now, we have people using the disaster and, in some cases, to terrorise people’s lives.”
He said people have been calling on the community and even the authorities to mobilise, adding that burglars who come to the island must be getting help from its residents.
“And, we as a people, we have to understand where we were, where we are, and where we came from, and where we would like to be, and we have to be our brother’s keeper.”
Whyte said he would be engaging this week with the superintendent of police on the island and other community organisations.
“They have reached out to me and how we could come up with an action plan. And we’re working on that — neighbourhood watches, … and they’re trying to get some whistles so we could distribute it to a number of persons, or ladies…”
Whyte said electricity is now available in about 90% of the island, but only 250 of the approximately 1,200 houses have been reconnected to the grid.
“The issue is that most of the houses have to be rewired,” he said, adding that there is a shortage of electricians on the island.
I know it is a disaster area, but why are we in 2025 depending on A WHITE FOREIGNER TO LEAD OUR RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION PROCESS. Why isn’t it more of a TEAM EFFORT with The Government, The Residents and The said white foreigner ALL working together, to fix the problems. How big is Union Islands, and how many people are living there right now. How difficult could this be if we put in the right amount of Resources, Personnels, Planning and work with the people and the plan to fix the issues at hand and have a co-ordinated effort, where we are ALL WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE SAME TEAM TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. We know it is an Election Year, But Let us fix the issues and problems first, get back to living decent; and Then we DEAL WITH THE ELECTION. We should have been better off six months after the Disaster of Beryl.