Column: Simmons On OBA, Road Safety & More
[Opinion column written by PLP Senator Lindsay Simmons]
The recent op-ed by OBA MP Robert King presented a distorted, pessimistic view that undermines the efforts of those who are working every day to build a safer Bermuda.
MP King states there are “35 unsolved murders.” What he fails to mention is that these cases date back over twenty years, some from when the OBA was in power. What he also failed to mention is that operational control of the Bermuda Police Service, the body responsible for the investigation of those murders, are the direct responsibility of the Governor and not the government of the day.
The OBA either didn’t know that, or are deliberately using an emotive issue to deceive Bermudians for political gain.
What MP King also failed to mention is that public cooperation is a key component to solving cases, and bringing criminals to justice, not politicians.
As government we:
- Increased funding for the Bermuda Police Service
- Put in place funding to put 30 new Police officers on the street, with a recruitment drive in progress
- Invested in new equipment for the BPS including additional vehicles and technology
- Installed CCTV cameras across the island
- Launched Bermuda’s first Witness Protection Programme in 2010
On road safety, we’ve increased roadside sobriety checkpoints, and launched public campaigns targeting impaired driving. In 2024 alone, police conducted hundreds of random sobriety stops and issued hundreds of citations. Unfortunately no government can stop anyone from making a tragic split second decision.
On Youth Violence we:
- Launched the National Violence Reduction Strategy
- Launched the National Youth Strategy
- Expanded funding for early intervention and education
- Expanded funding for mental health support
- Expanded funding for rehabilitation programmes
- Launched education opportunities and awareness programs to equip parents with the tools to recognize warning signs of gang involvement, bullying, and emotional struggles in their children.
- Expanded community programs and job-training programs to give young people constructive outlets for their energy and creativity.
- Increased funding for youth-focused initiatives that promote leadership, discipline, and self-respect.
- Continued to fund peer mediation programs and conflict resolution training to help our youth learn how to handle disputes peacefully
The OBA may believe that tougher policing is the answer, but we believe that those factors that drive criminal behavior; poverty, lack of education, mental health and family dysfunction must be addressed as well.
We know that the work isn’t finished. But to suggest that nothing is being done, isn’t true, and is unfair to the men and women on the frontlines working tirelessly to keep Bermudians safe.
The OBA may believe that this is the time for tearing each other down but we believe it’s time for teamwork.
We invite the OBA to move beyond the politics of fear and join us in building a Bermuda that is not only safer, but fairer, more united, and more hopeful for every family.
- Senator Lindsay Simmons
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There are alot of fancy words being flaunted about these day with a few being conveniently left out of the conversation
may be for good order wher there are 101 problems that can not be fixes say over night possibly because the do not know how the only soution would be to put it back on the shelf named Monyana.
the secret to keeping your job on and for Monday .
The secret to keeping you job that is if you can get away with it is too always leave something on you desk at 4 .oo pm on Friday afternoon with the hope that every body forgets about the solution till a year from now .
Now we could now include the word PROCRASTINATION..
MONDAY MORNING
Let me deal with the Monday Morning Board Room Meeting ( M.M.B.R.M. ) where most if not all the members are suffering from the night before, this is the perfect solution for every body present is not all to solve any probems till next week till the following Monday.
For the simple reason more that any other please sombody remind me in accordance with transparency that we have need to fire Billy Dolittle.
INFLATION. THAT , is a real problem.
THAT is a clear way forward on THAT, and THAT ,is not to look back on THAT till next year , In the hope THAT it will all go away, in, the ” hope ” and THAT there is if any future in THAT .
CAUTION. No body can”throw caution to the wind “if there is no wind ” I realy mean NO MONEY ! By golly !
Let me take you back the the years o Queen Ann number 2 things. were a lot worse than to day you had to work to eat .
The simple things of life .
YEARS go by so does the last buss to Somerset.
Ever seen a cop car chase a buss ? not this week .
Years do not go by they fly away on BA .
I know i have had a go at all. THAT!
Tomorrow never comes.
The easiest way to make money is to work for it .