Dunkley: When Will This Madness End?
[Written by Senator Michael Dunkley, Shadow Minister for National Security]
My colleagues and I are shocked to learn of the latest gun incident on Saturday where a teenager was stopped by a punk with a gun and robbed. It is deeply disturbing to know that our society has now sunk to such a level, where a child is set upon and threatened by a gun, in Hamilton no less. While details of this incident are still not public, our best wishes are sent to the young lady and her friends.
Public safety is under siege. We see it happening with the young lady in town, with taxi drivers who face assault, with home robberies and assaults on visitors to the island, gang and gun violence and the general trend toward anti-social behavior.
The culture of safety that has always prevailed in this country – the culture that made Bermuda a better place to live, raise families and do business – is beginning to disappear.
What is particularly disturbing is that the incidents of violence with dangerous weapons and guns have become so frequent that many Bermudians are becoming used to it – to accepting it as part of our way of life. This state of mind – this creeping sense of resignation about the crime situation – we must fight with all our efforts. We have to fight it because our future depends on it.
As a society, we cannot accept violence in any way, shape or form.
We appreciate the Police are working hard to get a grip on the situation but the fact is that significant progress is still required as gangs flourish and the anti-social behavior continues.
My colleagues and I are not going to roll over and accept the decline. We know there are many like us who are ready to step forward and fight for a better Bermuda.
We have seen some recent examples, such as the incident last week in Loyal Hill, where members of the community stepped forward to say enough is enough. While I do not support the alleged beating of the culprit, it is reassuring to see good people rise up and take a stand with the Police to protect our neighborhoods.
All of us can play a part in stemming the tide. By working together we can make a difference.
Another challenge in Bermuda today is overcoming the divides in our politics, where ideas proposed by one group are rejected outright by the other side or don’t even register because they come from the other camp.
The complexity and depth of our social problems manifested by the shootings require community engagement and cooperation the likes of which we have never seen. It means breaking political taboos – such as political parties working hand in hand to solve the challenge.
Regardless of political stripe, we are all Bermudians first and it behooves us to work together to solve common challenges.
It is also up to us as political leaders to set the tone and take the action to advance solutions that work for all of us as Bermudians.
There is no better opportunity to find this better way of conducting the people’s business than today’s terrible crime situation.
There are some positives steps in this regard. The Joint Select Committee on Crime has convened and begun its work.
In addition, the Government’s Throne Speech signaled a new resolve with the formation of a Ministry of National Security.
We are pleased to learn of consideration by Government for a second Police Support Unit and a Gang Task Force, ideas we have called for in the past.
We look forward to supporting worthy initiatives that emerge from the Ministry and also to putting forward solutions as we have done in the face of rising violence.
We have an opportunity to break the partisan divide, to join hands and show Bermuda that its political leaders can work together to solve big problems. The people expect nothing less.
It’s about putting country first. We must get Bermuda working again, and this is a good place to start.
Micheal you and all of us are wasting our breath with this lackadaisical so call Government, The only time they are going to do anything about is if it interferes with them getting reelected and if they get the okay from all their Canadian consultants!
They are all a joke to me.
Garry Marshall
Well maybe you two should go out and get them yourselves.. you seem to know a great solution that our “so called government” doesn’t. Im sure Kim will love to help aswell!!
Michael, I very much agree with you. It is enough of this madness! The Government can do some things differently in my opinion and so can the Police for that matter. But I think they both have crime (gun crime in particular) high on their agendas and I believe both are doing ALMOST all that they can. (Garry your comment doesn’t help at all!)
But the most action can be taken by the many many people who know who is involved in gun crime and are protecting these guys by NOT speaking up about it. I would guess that most people think that its none of their business, they may be afraid, they may condone it, or they feel it won’t ever affect them. The truth is that the longer its allowed to fester and grow the more it will affect EVERYONE!
We have one huge benefit on our side, Bermuda is a very small place, you can’t tell me that, for example, some uncle, mother, cousin, friend, or work mate does not know that their son, cousin, nephew, grandchild, partner, etc. is involved in something they should not be. Information and knowledge is the real power and we ALL have it!
Bermuda, we are not answering the hard questions with straight answers. If we did, things would start to get better very quickly.
where there is drugs and drug use….there will be crime…the society in bermuda is very tolerant towards drugs and this is what happens when u allow drugs to flourish…totaal chaos
I agree with James 100% . well said!
Michael Dunkley, I think EVERYONE is aware of what is going on in Bermuda and everyone knows that something needs to be done about the increase in violence particularly with guns. Like any other politician, your intention is not to simply do something about it but to poliTRICK the Bermudians to lean toward your party and to gain respect of the people by doing what ALL politicians do best “TALK”. Like any other party that comes into power, it all sounds sweet and dandy leading up to an election, but the minute the party is voted into power, all hell breaks loose, people become selfish and forget what needs to be done in this country!. Although your party isn’t the leading governing party, I don’t see you PHYSICALLY doing anything to help this country. If you TRULY csred about this island and its current state, you would be more geared into PHYSICALLY doing things to better this than to spend the majority of your time criticizing the leading party.
True Miss T. In fact the best thing the UBP can do to put an end to all this Madness if for them to Disband. They are no longer Relevant. In time, the same will happen to the PLP.