Disturbing truths told, and the community once more asked for help at anti-violence Town Hall meeting
The killers are getting better at killing.
That is the chilling reality Police Commissioner Darrin Simons conveyed at last night’s packed Town Hall addressing gun and gang violence.
He said, “when they are actually shooting, they are more likely hitting their target, causing injury, or causing death”.
“It’s very concerning because the reality is the people who are doing these things are getting better… They are collecting intelligence on their targets. They know where they are. They know that there are vulnerable at a particular time, and they’re gathering that information to make sure that they are not wasting their efforts.”
The Commissioner said that police are absolutely using all legal avenues they can to gather intelligence on gang members – but the best information always comes from the community.
He lamented how numbers have declined from the 480 police officers in the force when he started, and he listed some of the staff they will be requesting from the UK, including four Serious Crime Investigators.
Governor Andrew Murdoch, who has ultimate authority over the police, affirmed that the BPS is too small and needs modernising, and he indicated help is coming.
The Police Commissioner, the National Security Minister and the Governor all said the problem is harder to address without witnesses coming forward.
“It’s really, really difficult unless the community talks to you and shares what information that you have”, Governor Murdoch said.
“It’s really difficult for prosecutors to bring those to account who have perpetrated these crimes. They need evidence. They need witnesses.”
National Security Minister Michael Weeks said the violence is out of control, and the loss of young life is heartbreaking.
He said there needs to be a preventative approach as well as enforcement. Appealing to parents,Minister Weeks said “we have to know what our children are doing”.
“Police is not going to do it for you. It starts in your home, and we must know what our children are doing. We cannot ignore the red flags.”
“Don’t be afraid to cry for help. Don’t be afraid to say ‘yes, I need assistance’. A part of our national strategy is actually parenting classes… I even have to challenge the clergy – churches, too, have to do their job.”
“This is not a criticism of anyone. I’m just trying to point out that we as a community have to do this together.”
Standing room only
There was barely room to stand in the packed St Paul AME hall.
When the floor was opened for questions and comments, some appeared to simply vent their frustration at the violence, others called for a return to faith, while others called for heavier consequences for crime.
“I say reopen Casemates”, one man said, adding that “when you get life, 25 years, you do Casemates… No television, no radio. Take a Bible or some books.”
Another attendee told the panel to “change that little party house you got up Westgate into a real prison… because, in Colombia and Cuba, the parents are responsible for the food and water that the prisoners receive.”
Community activists highlighted the need for additional programmes, and the limited diversity of the audience.
“There is a petition online”, said one gentleman… “people who want to see the Ashay Program reinstated in the schools… this program was installed at Dellwood in 2003 to 2008… This program goes directly to the young black boys.”
Community activist and grief specialist Gina Spence asked, “who’s helping the children?”
“I’m not talking about the teenagers… Some of them were in their mothers wombs when the fathers got shot… What happens when they need grief counseling?… I would like to see grief as one of the pillars of the national strategy.”
Another woman lamented, “I just want to state the obvious. There’s not a lot of white people here, and we all need to care about this, because this is not a just a black issue. It is a Bermuda issue… as people who love this community, we should all care.”
We spoke to Minister Michael Weeks after the event, reflecting on a similar event in 2022 ago at the beginning of his tenure as National Security Minister…
“Three years ago”, he said,” I alerted the public in the country as to what the government will do.”
“So three years hence, the government has put things like CCTV in place. We have put more money into community groups… We have had the two day forum and workshop for all the stakeholders that were interested to come together to create the National Violence Strategy… we have increased the reward from for Crime Stoppers.”
“So we’re doing things that that I think is necessary. But but a part of that triangle is the police… the government… but the main piece is the community. So, I’m trying to give the community comfort to come out and say – you know something. They have to do what they need to do in order for us to make our country safe. ”
When asked what it is the community needs to do, Minister Weeks responded, “if you see something, say something.”
