An elderly couple visiting the Island were robbed by a knife-wielding burglar in their Sandys guest house.

Police reported that the American couple, who are both in their 70's, were awakened shortly after 5 a.m. by a robber threatening them with a knife demanding their money. They gave the intruder $300 and he fled.

The victims, who were extremely shaken by the ordeal, were not believed to have been physically injured.

The robbery came days after P.c. Dean Stanford and P.c. Pythagoras Santiago were beaten unconscious by a gang of men on Scott's Hill Road to add to crime statistics in Sandys.

The four PLP MPs are hoping for a united front with the Police and the community against outbreaks of crime in the parish.

They have pledged to lobby to get the necessary resources for the Sandys Against Drugs programme, as drugs are seen as a major cause of crime.

And there will now be regular meetings between the Police, Shadow Minister for Delegated Affairs Mrs. Lois Browne-Evans and the four MPs -- Mr. Walter Roberts, Mr. Walter Lister, Mr. Eugene Cox and Mr. Dennis Lister.

Yesterday they met with Police Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards, Acting Commissioner Mr. Alex Forbes and Chief Insp. Dave Barber to discuss issues of mutual concern given the escalation of violence and crime in the community and in Sandys Parish in particular.

Earlier in the week the PLP called for the whole community to work together to find ways to stem the rising tide of crime and violence.

They want to revive the S.A.D. programme, spearheaded by the Sandys PLP MPs.

A report by the MPs said: "The PLP view is that, while it is important to have all elements of the community working together to solve this problem the UBP Government has to also do its part and act to ensure that the Police service is equipped with the proper tools and brought up to its full complement with no more cutbacks.'' Responding to complaints that the PLP had changed its views on policing.

Mrs. Browne-Evans told The Royal Gazette : "We did believe the Island was overpoliced before Government made its cutbacks.

"It was a drastic cut, of something like 25 Policemen and it was the wrong time to do it.

"We said there was overpolicing a few years ago but more recently there has been an increase in crime and there is the drug problem to contend with.'' Chief Insp. Barber said the armed robbery on the visitors was under active investigation. Commenting on the rise of crime in the west end Mr. Barber said: "There is definitely an increase in crime in the West End.

"Some of it is no doubt drug related and we are increasing policing with assistance in other areas.'' P.c. Gary Venning added: "Every incident is treated seriously and actively investigated. There does seem to have been an increase in crime in the West End recently, and we are doing our best to bring the offenders to justice.''