Shadow Minister On Informed Crime Task Group
[Written by Michael Scott, Shadow Home Affairs Minister] As the “Government in Waiting,” the PLP’s goal is to spell out how we will build a fairer, safer, more prosperous Bermuda. Gang violence jeopardizes that goal and Bermuda needs the police, the politicians and the people all working together to create lasting solutions.
For this reason, I am inviting members of the public to contact me via email on informedtaskgroup@plp.bm to share your ideas, knowledge and feelings on how best to tackle crime and gun violence. Over the years many people who don’t know the issues, the culture and the ins and outs of Bermuda have had the opportunity to have their say. Your ideas have value and must be heard.
We have tried “softly, softly” on crime, we’ve tried being tough on crime, now we must seek to be Smart on Crime. That’s why we have announced the formation of an Informed Task Group, uniting people of integrity, vision and commitment without regard to political affiliation. We have taken this approach because while we believe that the PLP has a wealth of knowledge, we are not the only ones with good ideas.
The goals of the Informed Task Group are to build a holistic vision that is Smart on Crime by becoming:
- Smarter on the Causes of Crime by finding ways to target poverty, inequity, alienation, drugs and broken families.
- Smarter on Law Enforcement by identifying new ways to deter, catch and incarcerate criminals. From training to technology to expertise, no resource will be left untapped.
- Smarter on Rehabilitation by focusing on the reasons why people re-offend. We will find new ways to address inmates’ behavioral issues, root out mental health problems in our prisons, improve training and vocational opportunities, while designing improved methods for reentry to society.
- Smarter on Laws for Fighting Crime by modernizing, reforming and repealing laws which are no longer relevant to 21st Century Bermuda and expanding sentencing options.
We must also stop the practice of unnecessarily criminalizing our people by jailing them for having the will but not the means to pay their debts. We will also have a full and frank look at decriminalizing marijuana, eliminating conscription and any other matters that the people feel should be addressed.
We have learned that making promises we can’t keep is a mistake and that talk is cheap. We have learned that the politicians don’t have all the answers and that Bermudians must be included in shaping the direction of our country. With new leadership comes a new vision, new ideas and a new direction.
As the “Government in Waiting,” today’s PLP has the opportunity to show that we have learned, grown and evolved. We have committed to avoid the mistakes of opposing for the sake of opposing, playing politics at the expense of Bermuda’s international reputation and criticizing without offering solutions. The Informed Task Group and the task they have taken on, are a tangible example of our commitment.
We have not tried being ‘tough on crime’. I have no idea what he means by that.
I remember when Dr. Brown wanted to enforce a SWAT TEAM to snuff out de ignorance and we thought he was in left field, some things I did’nt agree with but he got that one right.
Bernews September 3rd : The Progressive Labour Party announced that they are going to launch a new Task Group on Crime to investigate the various aspects of shootings, and to “develop recommendations that are strong and effective in creating a lasting peace.”
On September 3rd he said LAUNCH ! and it was to “develop recommendations that are strong and effective in creating a lasting peace.”
Now he says: The goals of the Informed Task Group are to build a holistic vision that is Smart on Crime.
So already the plan to plan to have a plan has had it’s goals changed !
Is he making this up as he goes along?
No
“We have committed to avoid the mistakes of opposing for the sake of opposing, playing politics at the expense of Bermuda’s international reputation and criticizing without offering solutions.”
I guess Mr. Scott hsan’t been reading Bernews in the last few months then…
I was JUST going to say that.
If you don’t want to oppose for the sake of opposing, have a chat with your propaganda department. They didn’t get the memo.
The PLP is “Government in Waiting”… More like the Government that screwed the Jewel of the Atlantic…
i had to reread what he wrote. this man has to be kidding me. he better go play in some mud and come back in 4 years. sheesh
“Government in Waiting”…? sheesh man grow up!
Its a typo , I think he mean to say “Government in Hating” , I have had similar problem with the auto-correct feature on my phone.
What is required is:
1) ZERO Tolerance on gangs, the death penalty for shootings attempted shootings.
2) Compulsory school, government and ex gang member to Parent and kid meetings where the mythical glamour of gang life is exposed as a lie.
3) Compulsory education of kids on why life is hard for everyone. Stop looking at others and thinking life is a parade for them and focus on what you can and will achieve.
4) Compulsory education on why blaming your circumstances is petty and self destructive. We all have to strive to better ourselves from where we began.
5) Law on banning racially divisive comments on media messageboards…it creates hate, loathing and self destruction of people.
I have to agree with you especially on the divisive comments part. I’ve been guilty of it myself. But when we have so may “pot stirrers” on both sides of the political spectrum that blog all day long and are sooooo negative and disagree with the person and or the party behind the statement, its hard not to get annoyed and vent!!!
I am always amazed by those that STILL revert to the old school tactics to try and divide and conquer. Have they not figured out that we have evolved as a people and don’t fall for the same old BS.
Are they serious? I must have missed something. Did this gang violence start last year December 2012 and is just now spiralling out of control???
Come on guys, you had 14 years to come up with a plan to deal with this. What is going to be different this time??
he best strategy is “If you know something, say something”
Then he would have to ‘Really???’