Minister: Gang Mediation Structure Put In Place
A structure has been put in place around gang mediation and police officers will directly engage with students to stem the growth of the gang culture, Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said this morning [May 17] in the House of Assembly.
“Using the work of the previous administration as the starting point, a governance structure is now linked through a recognized local charity and empowers a trained professional in the area of street mediation as the lead,” said Minister Dunkley. “Direct intervention with gang members is an effective strategy to ensure that disputes do not evolve into shootings.
“In conjunction with the Bermuda Police Service, the GREAT gang education programme will be re-introduced into Bermuda’s schools. In September of this year trained Police Officers will directly engage with our young people in schools to further stem the tide in the growth of the gang culture.
“Education is a key component in any anti-gang strategy and I am pleased to advise this Honourable House that we will start with 8 schools and we intend to expand to more. Early intervention with alternatives to the gang lifestyle is critical.
The Minister said he will introduce two important pieces of legislation today; the Prison Amendment Act 2013 which will make it an offence for anyone to bring prohibited, high-risk items into any prison and the Proceeds of Crime Amendment Act 2013 which creates the mechanism for “cash back for communities”.
Minister Dunkley’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, in the weeks since this Honourable House rose for the Easter recess, a tremendous amount of work has been done to further the cause of making Bermuda safer.
I am pleased to advise this Honourable House and the people of Bermuda of the significant steps taken by this Government on several fronts in this area.
Mr. Speaker, as part of his keynote address at the 28th Annual Conference of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, Professor David Kennedy spoke to the importance of whole-community efforts in the fight against the gang lifestyle.
The engagement of moral voices as a means by which to return young people to the path of productivity in this society cannot be underestimated. David Kennedy is the well-known and leading expert in the development of Ceasefire programmes.
His time in Bermuda was extremely useful as he spent an hour on live television breaking down the parts of a successful Operation Ceasefire and demonstrating an independent opinion of Bermuda’s positive steps in this regard. He also met with the newly formed community level of the Inter-Agency Gang task Force and found a group energized and poised to make an impact on the gang situation.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to Professor Kennedy’s visit, I am pleased to advise this Honourable House that a structure has been put in place around gang mediation. Using the work of the previous administration as the starting point, a governance structure is now linked through a recognized local charity and empowers a trained professional in the area of street mediation as the lead.
Direct intervention with gang members is an effective strategy to ensure that disputes do not evolve into shootings.
Mr. Speaker, again on the intervention front, I am pleased to advise Honourable Members that in conjunction with the Bermuda Police Service, the GREAT gang education programme will be re-introduced into Bermuda’s schools. In September of this year trained Police Officers will directly engage with our young people in schools to further stem the tide in the growth of the gang culture.
Mr. Speaker, education is a key component in any anti-gang strategy and I am pleased to advise this Honourable House that we will start with 8 schools and we intend to expand to more. Early intervention with alternatives to the gang lifestyle is critical.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will be aware that in partnership with Crime Stoppers Bermuda, the Ministry of Public Safety this week launched its Gun Bounty Programme. As I indicated to the public, this is just one of the ways in which we hope to get the guns off our streets.
Mr. Speaker, information received is held in the strictest confidence.
Calls are received in the United States and no-one will know the source of the information provided. This campaign will run through July and is targeted through print ads, social media, radio and direct mailing.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members can likewise encourage their constituents with the campaign’s powerful tag-line: If you know something, say something.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, strong policy initiatives require a strong legislative foundation. This Government promised action in 2012’s election campaign and in the previous session of this Honourable House I indicated that specific legislation would be forthcoming to assist in the fight against guns, gangs, drugs and violence.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise this Honourable House that I will introduce two important pieces of legislation today.
Firstly, Mr. Speaker, the Prison Amendment Act 2013 will make it an offence for anyone to bring prohibited, high-risk items into any prison. Highlighted in that list is the cell phone or any parts of one. Secondly, the Proceeds of Crime Amendment Act 2013 creates the mechanism for “cash back for communities”.
Mr. Speaker, we promised in the election campaign that the proceeds of crime would be put to use improving the communities affected. This Bill will achieve that.
Mr. Speaker, any period of relative calm is welcomed. However, these periods do not allow us to rest on our laurels. In fact, we should work even harder. Make no mistake; the era of gang violence and shootings has not ended.
But as I have indicated to Honourable Members today, this Government is working hard every day on making Bermuda safer.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
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Direct intervention with gang members is an effective strategy to ensure that disputes do not evolve into shootings
Almost soudns as if they are trying to walk hand in hand with these weaklings! I truely hope that this is not the case. We need a firm hand to be used on this lil smurfs!!
@ABM…thank you for your comment but please be assured that that this Government will be firm and fair in our approach to make Bermuda safer. The BPS is providing the strong enforcement and convictions are being secured. In support of strong enforcement the Government will also provide legislative support and one example of this is the tabling of the Prison Amendment Act 2013 today which increases the penallty for anyone convicted of bringing or having a prohibited high risk items in prison. This approach will not wane.
But we also have an obilgation to help and rehabilitate people as once periods of incarceration are served these people re-enter society and we must prepare them to be contributing members and not reoffend.
ABM thank you for your concern and know that your comment and advice is most appreciated as we work together to make our island home safer.
Will teachers/school counsellors be involved with this process, as they are in direct contact with some of these individuals on a daily basis?
NO justice! NO peace!
another waste of time…it’s not going to do a thing!
What would you suggest be done? I don’t have the answers, and who knows if this will work, but these young fools don’t seem to be fearful of the idea of being incarcerated, or perhaps they are just incredibly stupid or arrogant and think they are untouchable. So what else can we try?
It has been proven that all gang members and most criminals eventually get tired of the lifestyle, get tired of looking over their shoulder, get tired of being afraid (even though they act hard) and many look for a way out, a way to move on, and if this isn’t possible many self sabotage their internal ranking so they will be discarded.
I remember an interview with a former Bloods gang leader admitted that while he was leader agreed to meet with the crypts and community leader to work towards a truce. He didn’t do so because they wanted to “work things out” with his enemies! He did so because he was getting older, starting too get challenged for rank by others in the gang, tied of being confined to his home and hood and tired of being scared every time he heard a loud bang, a speeding car or screeching tires.
I sent to soon. I meant to finish by saying here worked things out because he and others were just tired or being tired. This was a way to move on – without saying you lost the fight!
Who knows, maybe this might work. Maybe they are tired of not being able to leave home either. Maybe some of these guys are at a point where they too are tired of being afraid, broke and home. Maybe its getting lonely on the wall with many of their friends in jail, dead, hiding from the police, or in another country. There is strength in numbers, and the numbers are dwindling!
In response to your comment about these individuals not being fearful of going to jail, that is only because jail is nothing to be afraid of. In some cases, jail is better to them than their own realities. If the powers that be made Westgate a place to be terrified of these young fools may think twice about committing offences that get them put there. They sort of create their own prisons by engaging in activities that restrict their movements on our 21sq mile plot of land. I agree that something (anything) needs to be attempted to stop this senseless behavior.
I’m not an OBA supporter, but I think Michael should be the Premier. Only one that makes sense in OBA.
Thank you Mr. Dunkley for holding to your promise and refreshing transparency.
@pilot011 – I disagree. From past performance I find him somewhat impulsive, quick to point fingers without doing the necessary research,untrustworthy in my opinion,and too reminiscent of the UBP’s ‘good-old-boy’ days. Having said that, I am under no illusions. I have always said that we will see the OBA morph into the UBP with Gibbons, Dunkley or some other former UPB privileged replacing Cannonier as the new Premier in the near future.
I hope this is a policy of walking softly but carrying a very big stick & not being afraid to use it.
Fair enough, give them a chance but don’t take any nonsense.
Mr. Dunkley, thank you for keeping your promise. On another matter, I went to Dellwood School yesterday and found the grass needed to be cut and the buildings need to be painted. Couldn’t we get some of the prisoners serving time for (can I say minor offenses) help out. It could work!
It’s really crazy that the media has the whole island confused u all really think we have gangs lol jz because people are being shot u are calling us young black men gang members uanybody with real sense knows we dnt have gangs kz if I am correct every crew in Bermuda has bin the same crews for the last twenty or so years it only because guns have bin introduced into our lifestyle u calling it gangs its jz giving the police more power to police every aspect of our lives wake up people TIRED of being labeled as a gang member by people who dnt know sh!+. Bout me
Nobody care to respond to my post hmmmmm!!!!!!!i wonder why mr.H Dunkley anybody!!!!!!????????