Politicians Respond To Latest Shootings
Yesterday [Aug 9] saw what can only be described as 30 minutes of sheer havoc; with Julian Washington being shot in Devonshire, and well know Court Street figure Troy “Yankee” Rawlins being fatally shot minutes later in the entrance of Spinning Wheel. Minister Walter Roban and Senator Michael Dunkley have issued statements which follow in full below:
Acting Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing Walter Roban condemned the shootings saying:
As acting Minister of Labour Home Affairs and Housing, and as the MP for the constituency where the second shooting took place, I am saddened by the spate of events over the last 24 hours.
This has regretfully raised the level of fear in the community and we are all horrified that a life has once again been lost. I appeal for calm in the community and for those who may have any information on these incidents to contact Police or the confidential Crime Stoppers number. We must all work together to end this cycle of violence. As a community we must come together for the common good of all residents on this island and put a stop to the senseless violence that has now taken the lives of seven people this year.
Senator Michael Dunkley, Shadow Minister for Public Safety called for improvements saying:
In light of the latest outbreak of murderous violence, we appreciate the Government is moving to toughen sentences to stem gun violence.
But Bermuda will not make progress against such crimes until it undertakes a broad-based effort to address the problems underlying the people who pull the triggers and those who give orders to shoot. The spikes and lulls in shootings are the way this problem will continue to play out – it is the pattern with gang violence – and it reminds us we have a long way to go before we get it under control.
Even though the community regards gun crime as the island’s most serious challenge, the Government has not assured people it is doing all it can to reduce the violence. We appreciate the work of the Police. They appear to be gaining strength on the streets and building their capabilities to deal with gang violence. But tougher sentences and more effective policing alone will not get the job done. Without a comprehensive plan that brings to bear the moral strength of the community on the issues of guns, gangs and drugs, what is going on around us will continue.
It is why we continue to push Operation Ceasefire, a US-based programme that has had dramatic impact on gang violence in the most troubled US cities. Operation Ceasefire brings to bear the strong arm of the police on gangs while offering their members an out through the compassionate and ongoing support of the community.
This carrot-and-stick approach begins with explicit police warnings that violence will no longer be tolerated and coming down hard with every legal lever whenever violence occurs. This means disrupting gang lives with immediate and intense enforcement actions – serving warrants, mounting prosecutions, disrupting street-level drug markets, and strict enforcement of conditions for probationers and parolees.
The flip side of the plan is that if gang members wanted to step away from the violent lifestyle, the Ceasefire working group helps them with services and opportunities to make it happen.
Bermuda has all the elements to stop the shootings but they need to be marshaled and harmonized to succeed. It is not happening now!We urge the Government to consider Operation Ceasefire as a remedy that can work for Bermuda. It cannot happen without government support.
At this point, it is more important to form grassroots organizations to teach people especially upcoming generations, the meaning of citizenship. When you have a citizenry who think it’s only the police’s job to ensure a crime free society we have lost the fundamental zeal it takes for a nation to prosper. The police is an institution designed to enforce the law, not to teach ppl to obey the law or to be a watcher over society. The watchers are the citizens. How many criminals are there? Ok now how many law abiding citizens are there? We outnumber them by faaaar. So let’s declare war on the enemies of our society and discourage such behaviour.
Give ppl JOBS !! All you people who are praying at night for things to get better, probably have a pay check coming in the end of every week. While there are many ppl looking to rob or swindle the next person to get money.
As long as ppl are broke and look to make money ppl will get shot and killed. They have nothing else to do! Until you realize the “grassroot” problem is work, then ppl will continue to die..
Yall better realize that all this violence has been bought about by design, And it will not end until the ones who are behind it get done what they want Done!
This goes way past gangs and bad boys and such they are just ponds in a very diabolical game of Chess….WAKE UP BERMUDA!!!