In the U.S. Virgin Islands, in order to boost territory-wide efforts to fight crime, a new crime prevention program called "Taxi Watch," has been established which includes local taxi drivers; the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA).
The new crime fighting initiative gives the taxi drivers a direct link to VITEMA’s emergency 911 centre to report crimes or suspicious behaviour.
U.S.V.I. Assistant Police Commissioner Raymond Hyndman said the program is similar to other nationwide crime prevention and neighbourhood watch programs, but has the added benefit of using taxi’s that drive the streets daily to help be the Police Department’s eyes and ears.
Because taxi’s drive everywhere, with the program, the entire island becomes a neighbourhood watch area.
Perhaps this is an initiative also worth pursuing here. Consideration could also be given to public busses and private security companies. These types of initiatives can go a long way where it concerns an understaffed Police Force which would surely welcome more eyes and ears on the street.
All Sint Maarteners must play a part in safeguarding our nation’s national security. Individual citizens, the private sector and members of civil society groups have a role to play in promoting a culture of zero tolerance and helping to make Sint Maarten a safer and more secure place to live, visit and enjoy. National security, your security, my security, our families security is everybody’s business.
Roddy Heyliger