Mark Pettingill: Another Bermuda Shooting
The statement below is from Mark Pettingill, the Bermuda Democratic Alliance spokesperson on Justice:
Another Bermuda Shooting. Not so long ago I stood on a street corner outside of my office talking to Yankee Boy Rawlins about the way things are on the Streets. He told me it had changed a lot over the years and that the young guys these days had no respect.
As with many people in the Criminal Justice system I knew Yankee and knew about his reputation and sadly I was not surprised when he turned up as the latest victim in the on going madness that is plaguing Bermuda.
Nearly 20 years ago when I started my career in Prosecution a Senior Canadian Crown Counsel gave the opinion on a number of occasions that a Gang problem was going to come our way, that the groups of young men hanging around in certain areas would eventually get more organized and have more knowledge on how to beat the system and Bermuda would have a real problem. I don’t believe anybody heard him and if they did nothing was done to attempt to change the prophetic vision that he proffered.And so, we have inherited something that developed right under our noses and instead of being proactive to ward off the problem we simply reacted to it as it spiralled out of control.
Of course, in typical fashion, the Politicians would endeavour to blame it on everything under the sun but take very little responsibility for the fact that in the last 10 years crime has increased over 100%. The Country needs new management, fresh and creative ideas embracing the very best that the modern World has to offer when it comes to fighting crime.
A change in the PLP Leadership is the current focus and we hear a lot about the contenders would do but very little about what their Government should have done over the last number of years. The UBP will certainly highlight the failings but typically offer little by the way of solution and simply does not have the depth of talent or any new talent waiting in the wings to realistically tackle the problem of Crime.
The time of change that the Country so desperately wants is upon us and the Bermuda Democratic Alliance offers the real hope for getting things done in a better way. The ground swell of support has begun and if people are realistic they will get on board and give us the chance to do the job.
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Category: All, Crime, News, Politics
YAWN………
Wow!!!!!
Strong words there Mr. Pettingill.
Basically what your saying is that you have been involved in defending criminals all these past years ( and others) and in the past few months years you have and recently talked too the deceased Mr. Ralwins about what you are quoted above as saying.
Thanks. With all this knowledge going back twenty years, now you want to dump this on the public because your running for another party and blame the UBP and the PLP.
Sad.
You won’t get my vote. I call it grandstanding when the chips are down and using the loss of life is a terrible example of ways forward or political gain.
Shame.
Really? You defend these criminals and have the nerve to say this crap? Wow.
Perfect form…..point finger, insinuate you can do better, and finally offer no solutions.
@ Curious,an accused has the right to an attorney,it is the courts job to determine innocence or guilt,not the attorney’s.
On another note, Pettingill should be ashamed of himself, using this unfortunate incident to further his political agenda. To make matters worse the family and friends are still grieving and the funeral is yet to take place.
Sad!!
Typical MPetty, style – Lay and wait to see what others have to say then come up with some sugar coated bull – he won’t get my vote either
Here’s my solution, cause non of you’ll hyporcites have offered one either…
Hire more police to patrol and pester the neighbor kids that sit on the walls all effin day and night, leaving trash behind, are in the way of incoming traffic, stealing rental cycles, etc!! (Cedar Hill, Warwick!!!!!)
Let us all Name Neighborhoods so the police have a clue where to go, cause Eastbroadway seems to be their only look out patrol….
Put less officers at stop signs, making sure you put your feet down to avoid a ticket…..ogghhhh, that just urks the eff outta me when I see five officers standing near City Hall Car Park doing the same thing!
To me the solution seems kind of elementry.
No, I’m not voting for another politician, I’m voting for myself….I’m going to be the next leader…..oh, I think I’m that already….
Brasco! This is what I’ve been saying. Terry dissed my 24/7 police presence on Court Street and now they seem to be doing it.
If you see the police armed or not you will be more hesitant to commit a crime. The problem is that the police have not been VISIBLE for year after year in Bermuda. These guys loiter, loiter, loiter and no cops come to shoe them away. It’s like loitering is a tradition. Get off the wall. Get out of view.
Harass the trouble makers and if anybody uses the race card refer them to all the news articles that show black face after black face comitting these crimes.
I’m black and I love the jobs the cops do in my neighborhood. If I have to make a call, about 10 cars will be there in 2 minutes. That’s what Bermuda lacks.
CRIME PREVENTION! PARK YOUR FAT SLOW (MAYBURY) BUTTS IN THE HIGH CRIME AREAS!
YESSS!!!
We need to name neiborhoods!!!!!??? Are u kidding me!!! The police know exactly where to go and what to do but instead of investigating they want the public/community to come forward with information only to put themselves in harms way! I THINK NOT!!! I am a direct person of that BS so sorry can’t agree with that. I do think they can clearly see whos sitting on a wall and who isn’t so harrass them! They have this power to search and seige so USE IT! eVENTUALLY THEY WILL GET SO TIRED OF THE HARRASSMENT THEY WILL BE FORCED TO EITHER STAY IN DOOORS OR JUST DONT DO IT! This innocent ned to suffer for the guilty crap is for school!
I agree I will no longer vote until somebody up there makes sense about ANYTHING because they are all for themselves!!
I’m with Brasco !
Only in “Disneyland Bermuda” !!
There was mention of sending some of the inhumane folk to prisons overseas. They forgot, but I didn’t… Many believe that West Gate is a resting place and don’t mind going back , I thought I would attach the list of the 10 Worst Prisons in the World. The airport will be packed with crying mothers, saying not my baby, all the while the little monster has been around here pulling the trigger !! oh and … “don’t pick up the soap!”
ADX, Colorado
Tadmor Military Prison, Syria
Carandiru Penitentiary, Brazil
La Sante Prison, France
La Sabeneta Prison, Venezuela
San Quentin State Prison, California
Mendoza Prison, Argentina
Nairobi Prison, Kenya
Diyarbakir Prison, Turkey
Rikers, New York
Start with the Schools. Cedar Bridge and Berkley are the biggest problem in this mess!! What happens when you put teenage boys from all over the Island in one big place, which operates similar to a prison. They form rivalries, compete against eachother and most imprtantly they form grudges that will never be let go! Because Bermuda is too small!! Bring back parish schools! Save Bermuda’s social suicide before it happens.
Ohh and Decriminalise the Erbs! the more it costs the more problems you have with gangs. They make alot of money selling something that there is a huge demand for! Allow it to flow into the streets and there will be less fuss and fight. Concentrate on the Coke and Crack!!! Police figures on Marijuana figures were up in the first 2 quarters this year and so was violent crime and Murder. See and Correlation or are we still too ignorant to acknowledge it??
**Start with the Schools. Cedar Bridge and Berkley are the biggest problem in this mess!! What happens when you put teenage boys from all over the Island in one big place, which operates similar to a prison. They form rivalries, compete against eachother and most imprtantly they form grudges that will never be let go!**
Do these kids have signs attached to their foreheads that name the parish they’re from followed by the words ”hate on me” ?
When exactly did this utterly sick and juvenile thinking spring up ? It sure didn’t exist when I was in school , and if it is actually true , then it’s on the parent/s to socialize their kids properly. Many people weren’t for the new secondary school system but I’m willing to bet that this was the last thing they suspected would happen but it seems as though they’re now seizing upon it as an ‘I told you so’.
What civilized human on a 20 sq mile speck looks at another and says ‘You’re not from my parish .. I’m gonna get you ? ‘ Huh ? ? Any Takers ? ?
You don’t need a sign that says I am from this parish etc B 4 REAL!?!?! The have parent/s to socialize their kids properly. The parents are not at school with the kids when they are backed up against wall because they are socialising with someone from another parish and getting beat up and or jumped because of this. He/She has to be in school all day with those individuals NOT THE parents. So it is unfair to them to say this. I was in school when it was Warwick Secondary/ Berkeley/ Whitney/ St. Georges Sec/ Sandy’s Sec etc and the only thing we competed at was Inter school sports. So I agree this is and always has been a problem since they started that mega school foolishness why fix something that wasn’t broken.! TO SAY THEY DONE SOMETHING????? At the age of 12- 15 civilised is not what these kids are thinking about and although we would like for them to think this way that’s hard for the kids that do not wish to be tormented the whole school year for not associating with “THEIR HOOD” or associating with the wrong crowd which is held in the eyes of their peers. I agree with some better attention from wwhome YES that will make them better but ever heard of peer pressure??!!
Mark is a wantabe. He needs to resign and let a real leader take the helm. I agree with hypocrite. NO MORE MARK PETTY
How long has Mr. Pettingill been an MP under the United Bermuda Party? As an elected member of the UBP, how did he not turn a blind eye to the gang escalation? How much MP salary has he received as a UBP MP – approximately $60,000 since being elected as a UBP MP? Has he ever defended any known gang member? Whose Blind? Stevie Wonder can see better that Mr. Pettingill
show us respect, don’t make a fool out of us and yourself.
Boot them out:
I have spoken to many kids in the secondary public school system and they have told me that you cannot sit, eat or stand in any other group or your in trouble. It is like prison gangs. Terrible I know!! But this is the world now and grouping lots of youth’s together breeds resentment and causes rivalry. 10 years ago, Bermuda was a different place and 10 years ago was when Cedar Bridge strated to come into play. The real change has happened in 10 years. Why? Because the government never focused on the issue, the UBP were the ones that implemented the education changes initially. US public schools are along the same lines and they are just as bad.
We need to educate young people effectively and we need role models to show them life is good, whatever you do with it as long as you are proud of yourself. The young men of today are not afraid to die. Do they hate their own lives so much and if so why?