Campobello since 9-11

Over the last several months, border communities have received more than their usual share of media attention due to heightened security measures.

As residents of Campobello Island and business owners who transport goods from Saint John, New Brunswick, to stock our store, my husband and I deal weekly with the complications of border crossings at two levels. Crossing the borders at a personal level is far less restrictive than for commercial purposes.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, changes have been made and we will never return to the “old ways.” There are specific questions that are asked at border crossings. After all, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are the first line of defense in a heightened security system. Allegations of interrogations are unfair, and for the most part unfounded.

Canadian customs asks us questions when we enter the country. We now consider that a way of life. We need to get used to the “new ways,” and appreciate that though there is some inconvenience involved, they better protect us.

As a commuter transporting commercial goods through, there was a potential for nightmares. FDA prior notice can take hours. We could no longer bring beef products through, though for personal use they allowed us to do so.

We contacted federal and provincial governments and Sen. Susan Collins. From there, we spoke with the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. This resulted in a beef permit; an exemption granted to allow our local carriers to transport beef products through Maine to Campobello.

The FDA prior notice is still under advisement. There have been phone calls, faxes, meetings, grievances submitted. We are working very hard along with government officials and the FDA to find a workable solution for “stranded” communities.

Officials at both the Calais and Lubec borders have been very supportive of, and helpful with, our efforts. A great deal of progress has been made, but amending existing laws is a very long and arduous process. Some of the laws that must be enforced in our area that were made at the national level now seem ridiculous.

Residents of Campobello need a permanent ferry to mainland New Brunswick. If something happens to the bridge, or if the border roads from Calais to Campobello were restricted for some reason, we would not be able to leave the island.

We also have to address the long wait at the Calais-St. Stephen border in the summertime. Speculating if we would be better off as part of the United States is a moot point. We are Canadian taxpayers, and as such are deserving of reasonable access to our own country, independent of another.

In the meantime, if we work together, understand the dangers of our world, and are respectful of each of our positions, whether is be Canadian or U.S. border crossing, we can weather the storm. It seems a better alternative than criticizing local agencies that are not at fault for changes both countries have sustained.

Vanessa Casey lives on Campobello Island, New Brunswick.