Written by Opposition Leader Robert King
If a pipe breaks in your house and causes a flood, the first thing you do is shut off the water. Similarly, if gun crime is out of control, a first logical step is to shut off the supply of weapons and ammunition.
Premier David Burt has recently made bold statements about the UK’s responsibility to do more to protect Bermuda and its residents.
However, fixing critical infrastructure that is necessary to protect our borders is the sole responsibility of the Bermuda Government and has been ignored for far too long.
The HM Customs and Immigration dock in St. George’s has not been usable since April 2024. The Minister of National Security has been aware that the dock was inoperable since October 2024. While the government spends money fixing public docks and posing for photo ops, the dock that can help protect Bermudians has yet to be fixed.
As a consequence only a small fraction of vessels are being physically inspected at a time when our murder rate is high, and the damage caused by drugs entering this community is not being addressed.
Premier Burt is also being disingenuous in suggesting that the UK government needs to do more to protect us when we don’t take advantage of our good relationship with the UK.
The previous Governor, Rena Lalgie was an expert on anti-money laundering, drug interdiction and anti-terrorism and crime – yet the Premier did not utilise the skills and expertise available because of the mindset that the UK should leave the Government to manage its own affairs.
The UK has consistently been available to provide assistance when requested by this government and it is also mindful of not overstepping its authority because of the rhetoric about “colonial interference” in the island’s affairs.
Evidence of the UK’s continued assistance to the island includes:
- December 2009, at a meeting in London Bermuda requested UK/Overseas-Territories “foreign assistance” support from the UK and US to address gang and gun crime.
- January 2010, Overseas (UK) senior investigators/consultants were brought to Bermuda to boost capacity and assist police, social services, the community and justice to target gang-related crime and violence. The contract ended in 2011.
Regarding the government’s responsibility to manage its own internal affairs, consider the fact that in November 2010 the Government created the Inter-Agency/Gang Task Force (AGTF), intended to coordinate multi-agency efforts.
The Government announced in 2011 that the anti-gang initiative Operation Ceasefire, modelled after a US based intervention strategy, should begin by spring 2012, with hopes of even holding a gang summit.
In 2012, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary provided an assessment and recommendations concerning the policing environment, specialist skill gaps and recommended developing specialist capacity and partnerships – demonstrating continued UK involvement on policing capability issues.
In 2017, Pastor Leroy Bean was appointed as the head of the government’s gang violence reduction team. Given the crime statistics since that time as relates to murders committed indicates that the current strategy to address this public health crisis needs to change.
In September 2025 the UK offered to fund development of specialist officers and equipment for up to six months after a deadly spate of gun violence. The Governor and local reports said the UK had offered funding to bring in specialist investigative officers, analysts and equipment (surveillance/drones) for an interim deployment to assist the Bermuda Police Service.
Blaming the UK for not doing enough is misrepresenting the truth and does nothing to resolve this issue or create a pathway towards collaboration and cooperation in saving young Bermudian lives.
The truth is that current interventions and approaches are not achieving the results we need.
The Government must utilise all available resources to address this community problem. All stakeholders and those persons, groups affected must be a part of the solution focused approach. The framework is already in place; however, input is required from:
- Corrections: incarcerated persons, (to include families of), program providers, officers
- Department of Child and Family Services:
- Schools
- Courts
- Service Providers
- Sports Clubs
- Community Leaders
- Churches
- Youth Groups
- Police
Playing the blame game for political gain while Bermudians continue to be shot and murdered is an indictment on the Burt government. They can fix our infrastructure issues, work with the UK government and local police and community to find solutions. The people of Bermuda deserve honest, effective leadership that puts the community first.
