Minister Meets With CeaseFire Documentarian

October 25, 2011

Minister of National Security Wayne Perinchief this weekend met with Zak Piper, Co-Producer of the acclaimed documentary, The Interrupters, and Ricardo “Cobe” Williams, a “violence interrupter” working for CeaseFire.

A statement issued by Government said, “CeaseFire launched in West Garfield Park, one of the most violent communities in Chicago in 2000 and was quick to produce results reducing shootings by 67% in its first year.”

“CeaseFire’s results have since been replicated more than 18 times in Chicago and throughout Illinois and has now been shown effective by an extensive, U.S. Department of Justice funded, independent three-year evaluation. This evaluation demonstrated CeaseFire’s success in reducing shootings and killings.”

“The Model has been replicated more than a dozen times nationally in the United States and has two international sites in Iraq.”

“The Minister and the Director of the Festival, Duncan Hall, while meeting with Mr. Piper and Mr. Williams congratulated them for their sterling efforts to make a difference to those communities afflicted by violence and perhaps offering a model Bermuda may introduce to address its own gang violence. Mr. Piper and Mr. Williams also met with the Inter-Agency Gang Task Force.”

Minister Perinchief said: “This programme has demonstrated success in the United States and it is among the options being considered by the Task Force. The mediation of gangs and presenting alternative, positive life choices, is a priority of this Ministry and the Government.”

The Interrupters, screened at the Bermuda Documentary Film Festival, Directed by Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz, tells the moving and surprising story of three dedicated individuals who try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they, themselves once employed.

The Interrupters video trailer below:

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Category: All, Crime, Films/Movies

Comments (4)

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  1. George Maxwell Courtney says:

    the plp appear to do be doing something different on this issue because there is an general election looming near & there have been 16 gun murders since may 09; 12 of which have been unsolved

  2. Pastor Syl says:

    Great movie! Glad they are going to be showing it again. Was thinking they might also consider showing it at Chewstick to attract a broader audience.

    Another thought was that although this model has been tried and tested with reformed gang members as ‘interrupters,’ I am wondering if other concerned, trained folk could also be effective. They used to say only a former addict could understand and work with addicts, but we have learned appropriate education and training can take the place of experience. A brain surgeon doesn’t have to experience brain surgery to be effective.

  3. Ill Wait says:

    Yeah ok so hes saying that they will use this program to help deal with the gang problem in Bermuda. Lets see how long it takes before this happens. Election gibber jabber. Another solution that will probably go to waist.

  4. George Maxwell Courtney says:

    is this politrics as the plp say at the stake of winning the next election? it appears so as this CeaseFire group has been in existence since ’95 and it is now 2011 — 2 years + after the gun violence bda broke & now the plp government are thinking about adopting a CeaseFire scheme for this country. TIS,TIS, TIS, A CRYING SHAME!!!!!!!!!