Minister Meets Boston Gang Unit
Minister of National Security Wayne Perinchief travelled to Boston, Massachusetts last week to learn more about Operation Night Light, Operation Ceasefire, Street Safe Boston and the Hyde Square Task Force initiatives from the representatives who work to decrease youth violence and rebuild families and their communities.
“Having heard from members of the Volunteer Visitors Programme and the Inter-Agency Gang Task Force (IGTF), I decided that I wanted to see and speak to representatives from some of Boston’s most innovative anti-gang behaviour and anti-gang initiatives first-hand,” Mr. Perinchief said.
In the Speech from the Throne, the Government undertook to consider further proposals based on the recommendations from the Parliamentary subcommittee on crime and violence, the IGTF and other outside agencies. The Speech further promised a Bermuda Ceasefire initiative and a more structured collaboration between all partners in the IGTF.
The Minister met with Mr. William Stewart, Co-Director/Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Trial Court of Massachusetts to discuss his role in Boston’s Operation Night Light, and Operation Ceasefire initiatives. Mr. Stewart shared his wealth of experience in tackling youth violence in Boston.
Minister Perinchief meets with Mr. William Steward at the World Boston Organization Offices:
“Of the many tips and advice shared, his ‘think out side of the box to tackle your issues’ method was one that inspired me the most. I have challenged the members of the IGTF continue to broaden their approach as we work towards using existing practices, and in the creation of new and innovative ones, always thinking outside of the box,” Mr. Perinchief continued.
The Minister added Mr. Stewart confirmed that the implementation of Bermuda’s own Night Light initiative is the ideal first step in implementing a ceasefire initiative for Bermuda.
Minister Perinchief also met with representatives from the Street Safe Boston initiative, Ms. Tara Small, Director of Operations and Mr. Conan Harris, Streetworker Manager, and Mr. Robert Lewis Jr., Vice President for Program and Ms. Brianna Boggs, Philanthropic Partnerships Officer from the Boston Foundation to discuss their innovative street level gang intervention and neighbourhood based service delivery model.
Street Safe Boston was founded by Mr. Robert Lewis, Jr. and Executive Director Mr. Edward Powell. The initiative is widely recognized as an innovative model that relies on the entire community and was recently sought out by the UK Government for their experience and expertise in the field after the London Riots.
Street Safe Boston deploys 20 streetworkers into 20 of Boston’s most violent gangs to build relationships with ‘impact players’ to mediate conflict and interrupt violence amongst proven-risk youth and gangs. The Initiative also uses Programme Coordinators to expand and customise access to programmes and services focusing on jobs, education, health, housing services, legal services, re-entry services, recreation and family services.
“Finally, I met with Ms. Yi Chin Chen, Director of Lifelong Learning and Economic Development at the Hyde Square Task Force. The Hyde Square Task Force was founded in the 1980’s by a diverse group of neighbours in an effort to reverse the trend of youth violence in Hyde-Jackson Square neighbourhood between Jamaica Plains and Roxbury,” the Minister furthered.
Over a period of 30 years, the Hyde Square Neighbourhood Watch Group has evolved into a nationally recognised, non-profit youth community development organization whose goal is to build a stronger, safer and more vibrant Hyde-Jackson Square environment by developing the skills of its young people so that they can improve their lives and strengthen their community.
He concluded: “I am very grateful to all of the representatives from Operation Night Light, Operation Ceasefire, Street Safe Boston and the Hyde Square Task Force initiatives who took the time to meet with me and share their first hand experience. I believe that we are on the right track but we have much more to do. I look forward to providing further updates in the coming weeks.
“Perhaps the greatest lesson learned from the Boston Experience is that the bedrock of sustained, successful action is community based. Our focus on building stronger, empowered communities is supported by clear successes in other jurisdictions tackling similar challenges.”
The Operation Ceasefire program has been championed by the Opposition for a number of months, and today Craig Cannonier, One Bermuda Alliance Leader and Shadow Minister for National Security said, ” The One Bermuda Alliance is pleased the Government has finally come around to the idea of an Operation Ceasefire for Bermuda.
“The need for a powerful intervention between gangs is imperative. As we’ve said before, Operation Ceasefire is not a cure-all but a vital step Bermuda needs to take to stop the shootings.
“Operation Ceasefire has achieved remarkable successes in some of the toughest environments in the world. Their operations help lower the temperature on the streets and that is something Bermuda needs. In addition, the Island is well-positioned for a ceasefire operation. Police appear to be on top of the job of identifying all gangs, gang members and their turf.
“This is essential information for the programme to get off the ground. In addition, Bermuda has a community of social workers, active clergy and community activists who can be enlisted for the helping hand side of the operation.
“We appreciate the Minister’s visit to Boston, where the programme had its origins. It’s essential that he get the Government up to speed, but we will really know they mean business when we see Operation Ceasefire operatives coming to Bermuda to make frontline observations on the best way forward.”
The crime scene in Boston has not improved in years. Mayor Mumbles Menino, we call him that because he talks like he has very hot potatoes in his mouth, in the burbs of Dorchester, Southie, Roxbury, Mattappan these places are teeming with gangs and gang/gun violence.
Couldn’t agree more. Hey what about the Greek Finance Minister, we could ask him about our economic policy, or maybe the Norwegian Sports Minister about our cricket problem. Get some nice xmas shopping did you Wayne? 35% now though, that hits the pocket though, doesn’t it?
Please STHU. At least the guy is doing something. You people can never be satisfied. You think you can do his job better? STEP RIGHT UP.
Damned if you do, damned if you dont.
I am just saying that if you gonna talk somebody, talk to somebody that knows what they’re doing, where there’s proof of improvement. The way you talk is that as long as you talk to somebody that has failed miserably-and I know what I’m talking about because I live here-you’re OK, you’re talking. Nitwit!
I see your point, but my comment was actually referring to “Friendly Faces.”
Wait. Isn’t this the program that the UBP/BDA/OBA have been calling for for a few years now?
Signed,
Not-Party-Affiliated-But-Couldn’t-Help-But-Notice
Ya
Only the milkman has been cal;ling for such action….you cant expect the idoit leader to have a thought…Craig Who????
This is just a preview screen show…next we will see someone from these organizations here as consultants. More money spent for a program that is not effective, just like Job Corp (a big failure in the US).
How about we take a look at the work schedules of the entire police force. Why are most police working during the day when most gang related activity is during the night. The task force should be working weekend hours (9-6 pm) all during the week. Let us use our resources more effectively and wisely.
Just a thought!
Task force?? I must have missed that, what is it? And what happens between 9-6pm? That’s normal working hours I’d have thought, no? Gangstas don’t get off Mummy’s couch till midday, lol.
Hello
Sorry time should have been 9:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Not sure what people are talking about here, but it would appear that the crime stats have gone down – quite a bit – over the last 20 years
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/macrime.htm
Here we go again with yet another program….lets see how long this one lasts if it is implemented…always seeking outside help….more money that will be going out of the country…..you want everyone to “Buy Bermuda” ..how about “Hire Bermuda” there are people here that can do the same thing for less…..so annoying how everytime we see something that “looks good” we jump on the bandwagon and say oh let’s try that….try it for a short time than something else catches our eye…what might work for one might not necessarily work for another and this is where we go wrong..always trying to “adopt” someone elses way..we don’t need no one to tell us to “think outside the box”..and while I do give Mr. Perinchief some credit for what he is trying to do just remember that, that same type of”help” has been extended here by certain individuals and they’ve been turned down……..
Can’t argue with that! *thumbs up*
We need a program to show the future gang banger’s what the present gang banger’s are going through… Like have them sweep the streets with a Ball-N-Chain attached while wearing their hot pink overalls with pink shoes and beanies, with members from each gang having to work with each other on the same chain link…
Made a mistake when posting but my response to your post is below Joe says’ post. To add to my response I think your idea of showing future gang bangers what the present gang bangers are going through is good but not by degrading them with pink (girly) cloths. Gangsters wear pink anyway just not when they are about to take someone out since it would be hard to creep up in pink. This wouldn’t deter them just would make them more resentful of the law system & make them strike back harder when they get out. On the other hand showing future gang bangers how one OGs that I know exist who was in & out of prison since his teens has been raped so many times he now feels its the norm. This guy is not a skinny scrawny guy either & has never been but there’s always someone bigger or with more power & in prison those take advantage. Another story is of another OG I now of who tried to import coke in a condom in his stomach. Condom broke while in transit & now he goes to the bathroom in a plastic tube attached to a plastic bag. Another is how all get initiated when they get into prison by being jumped (beaten) by 10 or more guys almost to the point of death. Yet another is of one of the hardest OGs I’ve ever known who would stab someone in a second back in the day. This ultra hard OG is now a skinny shell of a man who rides around on a broke down pedal bike while making small money cleaning business mens cars. This hard OG finds it difficult to get a job because of the sores he has on his body from aids he caught from a girl he used to pimp out. I’m sure there’s many more of these true stories existing. If these stories got told along with pictures of what these people have become it should change the views of the idolized lifestyle of a gangster.
Maybe we just need some tough love and stop babying our youth and allowing them to blame others -anyone- so they can drop out and do what they want. And the legal system which protects them; and parents who protect them; and politicians who blame race for why they can fail.And then over this we can lay support. More reports? A total waste of time. Reports are for governments that are unable to lead.
Seems like your taking that guy Joe Arpaio’s idea who owns the private prison in Arizona. Joe Arpaio is a racist freak who only takes on low profile prisoners that are caught for weed baggies he doesn’t even have real gang bangers in his so called prison. To make matters worst he goes around pulling the prisoners pants down on highway chain gangs to show the forced pink underwear the have to public. Those prisoners should not have to go through this for being caught with a bag of weed and further more it doesn’t work as Arizona’s crime rate keeps increasing. The only reason he’s allowed to have his wardens & him abuse prisoners is because there are soooooo many!!! people locked up in the U.S.A for minor offenses like failing to pay IRS or small quantity weed possession that the public prisons are full so they have to pay private ones to take the excess prisoners.
United States is a terrible role model for the way to deal with gang crime as they have the worse in the world. They have it so bad there that they pass the buck on to El Salvador & ship MS13 members born in America in a gang created in America to El Salvador. This is just because the MS13 gang members decedents came from El Salvador turning a peaceful country building what was destroyed from Ronald Reagan’s black death squads into a U.S. gang trash dump. Should we ship gang members back to their origins also? There’s a reason why Raymond Rawlins nick name was Yankee.
@ Bernews,
Just a question who took the picture?
We need zero tolerance. Mercenaries or SAS take all the known gang members and cull. Anything less will not eliminate the problem or provide enough of a deterant. Radical problems require radical solutions.