Walter Roban Condemns Yesterday’s Violence

August 24, 2013

Area MP Walter Roban extended his condolences to the family of yesterday’s murder victim and appealed to anyone who may have witnessed what happened to cooperate with the authorities.

22 year old Steven Jireh Iris died as a result of a stabbing that took place on Glebe Road on Friday morning [Aug 23] and approximately 12 hours later, a 25-year-old man was injured in a shooting in Devonshire.

Mr Roban said, “I was shocked to hear the news of the two acts of violence and one resulting in a death in the Pembroke/Devonshire area yesterday.

“This area over the years has seen its share of violent incidences which is disheartening to the residence and families of the Glebe Road area as they struggle to make sure they live in a safe and peaceful community.

“As the Parliamentary representative for this area I stand with the residents and condemn this senseless act of violence. This particular area has seen one violent act too many.

“The report that Mr. Steven Iris fell victim to his injury was not pleasing to hear, and on behalf of the Progressive Labour Party and myself our condolences go out to the family of Mr. Iris.

“Our thoughts and prayers are also with the family of the other young man who was shot at in the Alexandra Road, Devonshire area. We do hope for a speedy recovery from his injuries.

“All residents of Bermuda must be vigilant in the effort to combat and eliminate violent acts of all kinds as there are too many of our families still suffering from the negative effects of these incidents.

“We appeal to anyone who may have witnessed what happened to cooperate with the authorities in order to bring justice and closure for those who have been affected,” concluded Mr Roban.

Anyone with any information about either incident is asked to please contact police on 295-0011 or the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-8477.

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Category: All, Crime, News, Politics

Comments (44)

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  1. Come On Man says:

    Who cares what Walter Roban thinks. Everyone is thinking the same way. Do these people call the media with their political pondering.

    • I have to agree, I frankly don’t care to much for what any politician has to say in regard to these cruel acts of violence,we still live in a day and time were the politicians seemingly have a lot to say but do absolutely nothing to combat the things in this country that really are effecting us as a people.

      Bermuda is going through a serious economic downturn and it will get worst before it gets better,many are feeling the real pressure of it and it trickles down into our society and some of the social ills that we see, when a people is oppressed and down trotted the results come out mostly in our younger generation.

      when we as adults and parents don’t see no hope and all around us seem like despair, our very own children feel the effects of what we are dealing with and we can’t expect to teach them hope for the future,when it is being snatched away by the very leaders who say they have out best interest at heart.

      On the one hand they say there is hope and on the other they take what little hope there is and give it to third world citizens of other countries,by taking jobs we can do,no I make no apologies for tying the truth to the outcome of such violent attacks taking place in our communities.

      If we have so much to offer our youth why do we have so great a portion going wayward, our school system is a joke, our government is a bigger joke and we expect greater,that within it’s self is a joke. O.B.A take care of your people which is all Bermuda and not just the elite who want all foreigners working in their homes and establishments, also P.L.P don’t go on the band wagon trying to show the O.B.A how bad they are doing,because you did no better and I think some of the very thinking and ways of doing of the former premier Dr. Ewart Brown has cost Bermuda dearly and will continue into the near future,many that can read between the lines will understand.

      Black folk stood and had an uncle toms approach given to them under the P.L.P and they accepted a lot of it and now that Tom’s grandchildren and great’s is back it makes it easier for them to continue what the great Dr. startted.

      • Collins says:

        Walter, you remind me of Rev sharpton and Jackson.

        • Serious though says:

          @ Collins, Stop drink whatever you are drinking! Missed the point !

    • Terry says:

      Apparently so. Or they go looking for comments from area reps.

    • Time Shall Tell says:

      It’s attitudes like yours that keeps this island from truly coming together & progressing.

    • Cleancut says:

      Roban has to get on the big stage otherwise the PLP will have no chance of winning the next general election.

  2. Lebron says:

    Dear Walter, this divisive society is because of your hopeless party. Don’t even start mate.

  3. lol says:

    Who cares what you think walter we all thinkin the sam3 sh!t

  4. Nuffin but da Truth says:

    Keep telling you guys…EXECUTE these little bastards that commit murder.

  5. Kim Smith says:

    Look you people, why do you have to criticise the man for his comments to the community about the terrible violence that has raised its head again??? I think you are way out of line on this one.

    • Lebron says:

      Er, because the party he represents did nothing while things got worse and worse. A major reason kids are shooting each other is the soft government of the PLP.

      And because we have no jobs, no money, no tourists, and what we do have is divide, businesses leaving and debt.

      So is that Walter Roban’s fault?. Not directly no, but if you are going to come out with sh** like this, be prepared to be reminded of your asinine party and what little they did.

      No apologies for party politics at a time like this. This is exactly when you need reminding.

      • Kim Smith says:

        From the sounds of the article Mr. Roban was not being political in his comments. And anyway, just as the PLP had the opportunity to make a real difference in this island when they were given the reins in 1998, so can the OBA (and anybody else) now. Otherwise it will be tit for tat all over again… and I for one will not waste any more time with that.

        • Cleancut says:

          Mr. Roban and the PLP are desperate, what don’t you get Kimi.

      • W.T.F. says:

        Take your medication and then reflect on how much the PLP actually did in this area of fighting gang crime and then show me what the OBA has done differently.

        • Lebron says:

          Tough to compare 14 years with 8 months, but if you look at what I wrote, I wasn’t championing the OBA, just making the observation that the PLP were hopeless at pretty much everything, which is why we find ourselves in such a mess, and stuff like this happens. So Mr Roban, please shut up.

  6. Small island mentality says:

    Dear MP Roban,

    Why did you not condemn the previous Finance Minister when, in her role as self professed ‘cog in the wheel’, she blew through MILLIONS of capital expenditure now leaving us andour children in debt.

    The PLPs inability only helped to increase violent crime, so get over yourself Minister Roban.

    • Collins says:

      man you said it all,Roban is a joke as a frequent talk show caller always says.

  7. Concerned Citizen says:

    I cannot wait to hear what the Minister of National security has to say about these recent incidents. I will then take note of some of the comments from you folk. Will you tell Dunkley the same sh-t you are telling the area MP? Roban, as Kim Smith has stated, gave a non political statement, yet you idiots come on here and blame the PLP!? I haven’t seen any of you criticise the OBA govt., who are the folks that made violent crime a political issue in the first place. Just look at the sh-t you are talking about right now! I guess, as a result of the OBA fooling you into thinking that they would solve the crime issue, you now feel the need to deflect from their lies, and focus on the PLP. I wish mike Dunkley would be honest and finally admitt that he and his government, like all previous governments, HAVE NO OPERATIONAL CONTROL of the police, and thus, should not take credit or blame for what is going on! Btw, I haven’t noticed any violent crime in OBA held areas! Must be the PLP fault right? You folk are sick, just sick!

  8. Killuminati says:

    Eveytime someone gets shot an MP or the government are always “outraged”. NEWS FLASH the people of Bermuda are too !! I’d feel 10x’s better if they said nothing and do nothing, then to hear a fake heartfelt public message and STILL do nothing.

    This is pathetic. Not one person we voted in are taking action. But every time I look taxes and prices are rising. Wtf. I’m ashamed to be bermudian sometimes man.

    Just wait… Nobody is the the right person to shoot , but watch … The wrong person is going to get shot. And BOOM they are all going to be rattled and take action.

    Vigilantes are going to start rising soon. The people will take matters into their OWN hands!!

  9. Triangle Drifter says:

    Yeah, yeah, yeah Walter, & what did you do when you were in a position to do something?………The sound of tree frogs……….

    The PLP thrived on instability & being soft on crime. You reap what you sew.

    • JAWS says:

      The PLP wasted my vote and it looks like the OBA is wasting my vote on the same train track.

      OBA gov we need to get hard core on these punks. If you don’t come down hard this party will not win in the next election. First thing is take away that hotel we call Westgate and turn it into a real prison like a Super Max. If we have people saying I rather do time then pay a fine something is to nice in there.

    • Concerned Citizen says:

      Ummmm Triangle, judging by your comment pre December 2012 and now, isn’t it obvious that it’s the OBA who have thrived on crime?! Didn’t you try and convince the people that is was the PLP fault, so they could either stay away from the polls or vote OBA? Where is Premier Dunkley anyway? For 3 years he acted as the knight in shining armour, but now, he too realises that he doesn’t have any control over the police or crime? How could he? It’s not in his remit! Can you be honest before such violent crime hits your neighbourhood? Can you?

      • Triangle Drifter says:

        I will readily concede that I am less than perfectly happy with the way the OBA is dealing with crime though it is better than the PLP did at any time. Looking at the personal lives of many in the PLP they were hardly in a position to be anti crime.

        The Government of the day sets the tone of how crime will be dealt with. We are only 8 months into the OBA administration. Much is on their plate to staighten out. They took over a ship that was on the rocks not one that was sailing along fully functioning as the PLP did.

        The OBA deserves time. All cannot be dealt with at once. Hopefully the judicial system will have its turn before too long. Your average OBA supporter is not like your average PLP die hard supporter. There is no OBA koolaid potent enough to make us blindly follow.

        Much more is expected of the OBA, especially by PLP supporters. Wait for it. Results will come. If they don’t the OBA’s own will there to hold them to account.

  10. Chris Famous says:

    Looks like the real thugs are on Bernews

    • Lebron says:

      Well the real racists are in the Bermuda Sun, eh Christopher?

    • Impressive says:

      i agree famous!! the comments aimed at him for condemning violence.. all types of personal attacks on him.. yes Bermuda is soo much more these days..

      The OBAer’s are amazingly cynical and down right rude. The man is expressing his feelings as an elected member of parliament,, he didnt say, lets make this country communist (sarcasm).. another day of childish insults from the oba supporters,, ho hum, ho hum,, does anything every change.

    • Terry says:

      True to an extent Christopher but they have taken too the pen and not the sword.
      Take care.

    • Franklin jr says:

      Seriously, get over yourself

  11. Franklin jr says:

    From the “water is wet” file…

    The man just wants to get his name into the news, and will use whatever means he needs to

    Really, what’s a politician going to say, that he supports yesterdays violence?

  12. Honesty says:

    i know this may come across as ignorant, but for the most part isn’t it always a gang affiliated person who gets off’d in bermuda? with the exception of like one or two who were mistaken identity. people are commenting “execute these b*stards” but it looks as though they are doing it to themselves. Dead or in jail. Eventually there will be none left (hopes). And for those of you who are going to comment “what about the ones who haven’t been caught”..well karma is a b*tch, so in due time. Although death shouldn’t be wished on anyone, let these clowns kill each other off and leave the innocent out. When someone is shot and killed in Bermuda, people are quick to say he wasn’t about that life but in reality they know. I guess it looks good for the media when interviewed, no one wants to hear the blunt truth “my son/nephew/cousin was a complete douche and was often warned about the lifestyle he was living” but no, everyone who gets off’d there is apparently a noble citizen who helps old ladies cross the street. The news paper must ask the families for recent photos, because if you were to view any of their profiles via facebook or instagram, it tells a different story. Throwing up gang signs, drugs, etc. Promoting a lifestyle and portraying this character to the public. Not to say everyone of them is an a**hole, but come on now..My condolences to both families though.

  13. Bermuda Boy says:

    Chris Famous, Chris Famouss, Chris Famoussss, Chris Famousssss, which is it. Don’t you know how to spell your own name?

    • Luis Suarez says:

      I can spell it. I believe it is “a racist”. Black on white, white on black, makes no difference CF, it’s all the same, love your brother, one love….that’s one race, not one color CF btw.

  14. Kim Smith says:

    Until we learn that you don’t have to agree with someone to be, act and speak respectfully to them and about them, we will continue to have the divisions in our island. Ironically, a lack of respect to others is really an indication that something is wrong with you.

    • Concerned Citizen says:

      Agreed!

    • Impressive says:

      the best comment posted on this page since i have been reading this,, wonderful post Kim,, whatever happened to respectfully disagreeing with someone. . i am trying to teach the youngsters that, if you dont agree with someone, you dont have to be rude and disrespectful.. you let them make their point, and them you put across your point, and how you feel yours is better etc..Learn to respect someone’s opinion regardless if you agree with it or not.. There are over 7 billion of species that look like me on this earth, i know they are not only going to think like me.. not all of them are going to think that the oba is the solution to all of worlds problems either,, gosh..

  15. Whistling Frog says:

    Some of you people are so contrary. Weather he’s a politician or not, he speaks according to how he feels just like the rest of us. When you don’t hear from your political raps you all cry and when you do you all scream and shout with your negative BS. I personally don’t know the man but he has a right to voice his concerns regardless.

  16. navin johnson says:

    Certainly Mr Roban was right to express his sympathy for the murder of a young Bermudian man but in the next breath to condemn the news media for not carrying his interview shows a bit of his reasons…

    • Triangle Drifter says:

      He reminds me of Quintin Edness. Never saw a microphone that he did not want to speak into, especially if it had media call letters on it.

  17. Concerned Citizen says:

    I’m awaiting the comments From you cyber bloggers regarding the statement from Minister Dunkley! I has been posted for all to see! And……..it’s very similar to MP Robans statement! Come on Triangle, Navin, Lebron, and the girl who don’t like herself, Collins, and the rest of you hypocrites., let’s hear you condemnation and personal attacks towards the man you all claim be capable of solving crime! Waiting…….waiting……