Good afternoon. Commissioner Simons, members of the media, and everyone watching and listening.
This week, two young people in our community have been shot in acts of gun violence. On Sunday morning, a 22-year-old young man was shot at a residence in Hamilton Parish. Last night, a 17-year-old was shot on Curving Avenue.
Earlier today, I sat with the mother and father of the young man shot last night alongside members of the team. We spoke about their son and their family. We reflected on the understanding that there is no easy fix but that the answer is in community.
To both families: you are in my thoughts and prayers and I am truly sorry that you are going through this terrible experience.
These shootings are serious, and I understand the fear and hurt they have caused in our community. Too many of our young people are being lost or harmed through gun violence, and we can never accept this as normal.
This morning, I met with Commissioner Simons and was briefed on both shootings. The Bermuda Police Service has the Ministry’s full support, and residents can expect an increased police presence in the affected areas. I have also asked the Commissioner to identify any immediate resources the Service needs from our Ministry in order to carry out their work investigating these incidents. I’ll now ask the Commissioner to speak to the police response.
Thank you, Commissioner. A police response is necessary, but it is not enough on its own. This morning I also met with our Violence Reduction Team to discuss how we support families and young people in the affected communities. The team was out in the Curving Avenue area this morning, hearing from residents and reinforcing that, as a community, we are in this together. Some of the team, including Pastor Bean, were out late last night and into the early hours, and provided support to the family at the hospital.
Work is also underway to refine the Government’s approach to violence reduction, so that we reach our young people earlier and more consistently. That work will be built with the community, and I want to recognise the parents, mentors, coaches, pastors and men who are already reaching these young people. I will share details of our restructuring and extended programmes in the coming weeks.
I will continue to meet frequently with the Commissioner and the Violence Reduction Team so that we can work collectively to address these issues strategically and effectively.
But the Violence Reduction Team, the Ministry and the Police can only do so much. The police have a responsibility to investigate these crimes and bring offenders to justice, but we cannot arrest our way out of this violence.
The truth is that our community has more power to stop this than anyone standing up here. Our young people listen to their families, their coaches, their barbers, their pastors and their friends long before they listen to us.
So, I am asking you to use that power. If there is a young person in your life you are worried about, please don’t wait. Check on them. Talk to them. Help us break the cycle of hurt, trauma and retaliation. Please do
not let this become just another day in Bermuda. We cannot become numb to this.
And if you know something about these shootings, come forward. The police can only act on what they know. Call them on 211, or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 800-8477, or speak with any police officer you know and trust.
This is not someone else’s problem. These are our young people, and we will not give up on them.
Thank you and we will now take any questions related to this matter.
