Minister Hayward Meets Business Owners
Minister Jason Hayward met with Court Street business owners following the recent shootings, saying that “as the MP for the area, I accept the responsibility to ensure that your concerns are not only acknowledged, but acted upon with the seriousness and speed they demand.”
Minister Jason Hayward, the area MP, said, “On Friday, I had the opportunity to meet with business owners along Court Street following the recent shooting that has deeply shaken the community. What I heard was not just concern, but pain, frustration, and a profound sense of urgency.
“The violence that took place was not just an isolated act. It was a blow to the heart of a vibrant and historic area of our island. Business owners spoke candidly about the fear that now lingers, the erosion of trust, and the damage being done not only to livelihoods but to the community spirit that has long defined Court Street.
“Their message was clear: more must be done, and must be done now.
“I heard concerns about the lack of visible police presence, the breakdown in communication with law enforcement, and the impact of non-functioning security infrastructure. Many spoke of a justice system they feel is too lenient in the face of violent crime. Others shared their fears for the younger generation too many of whom are becoming entangled in cycles of revenge and retaliation.
“Despite the heavy atmosphere, there was also hope. Hope in the form of clear, constructive solutions, calls for increased police patrols, better street lighting, working security cameras, and a renewed focus on community-based initiatives that rebuild pride, ownership, and safety in the area.
“Let me be clear: I hear you. And I stand with you.
“As the MP for the area, I accept the responsibility to ensure that your concerns are not only acknowledged, but acted upon with the seriousness and speed they demand. Restoring safety and prosperity to Court Street is not a task for the government alone. One that must include the police, the community, parents, and all who care about the future of our island.
“This is not a time for finger-pointing.
“It is a time for unity, for action, and for compassion.
“To the business owners and residents of Court Street: thank you for your honesty, your resilience, and your commitment to your community. I will continue to engage, listen, and work with you, because Bermuda cannot thrive unless all of Bermuda feels safe, supported, and heard.
“Let us move forward together with purpose, with urgency, and with hope.”
“I heard concerns about the lack of visible police presence, the breakdown in communication with law enforcement, and the impact of non-functioning security infrastructure.”
If only the Bermuda Police Service could be properly funded and resourced. But that has not been the case for at least 2 decades.
And that’s the PLPs fault. Nobody else
From your post in another story “Suspect Arrested In Connection With Murder”, with no response to my feedback: “For two decades now the Bermuda Police Service has been chronically underfunded and under-resourced.”
This story: “If only the Bermuda Police Service could be properly funded and resourced. But that has not been the case for at least 2 decades.”
My retort: That whale don’t swim. BPS is overfunded and overstaffed for the size of our population. BPS also has a Reserve unit to call on.
2.3 officers per 1,000 residents (defundpolice)
In the United States, the average number of police officers per capita varies by city size. For a city with a population of 65,000, the average is approximately 2.3 officers per 1,000 residents. This means that a city of 65,000 would typically have around 159 officers if this average is applied.
Feel free to correct these numbers from Wiki and recalculate the percentages: The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) has between 450 and 500 sworn officers.
450/159 = 283% larger than average
500/159 = 344% larger than average
Say 400 is closer to the actual number; 400/159 = 252% larger than average
These percentages do not take into account the Reserve.
The issues at hand are overstaffing, over budget, poor resource scheduling & utilization. BPS “management” lacks the basic skills to manage a budget and resources. BPS is clearly way over-bloated by the metrics.
Did I get the last word in? Kudos to me!
I am in agreement with getting more police support to enforce our laws. Also I agree with the Minister addressing the roots of the problems:
1. How much are we paying on security via the regiment, police and other government security; the budget should call for at least 5 % of GDP, if its less then cuts should be made in other expenditures. Eg Do we really need 40 MP s ? Do we really need to spend money on trips with to the Caribbean ? Are therecheaper alternatives to a Southlands development?
2. Let’s focus on better roads, better care for Botanical gardens, parks and abandoned schools (at least a fresh paint and landscape/care) lets make sure we have life guards on our public beach s to protect out tourists; our most important industry PLUS Bermudians