Burch: Change Can Happen if We All Do Our Part
"We cannot fix the gang issue overnight. We cannot turn bad to good overnight. Change can only happen if we each do our part." So says Minister David Burch who, today, reiterated his call for people who witness acts of violence to report them and updated the public on the PLP Government's progress in our fight against crime.
Minister Burch reports that the PLP Government is taking action on a number of fronts. On policing, Burch noted that the American FBI is on the island training the Bermuda Police Service (BPS), that experts from the New York Police Department (NYPD) Gang Unit will soon be on island providing assistance and that a contingent of officers from the UK will also be hitting the streets. Minister Burch provides the full update:
Let me first deal with the law and order aspect of what we are doing.
I am pleased to report that we have seen:
More community police officers on foot patrols.
More visible police officers in densely populated areas.
More police patrols in identified hot spots.I can further report that the Government, Government House and the Bermuda Police Service are on the same page with regard to addressing violent crime.
That action is being taken to combat the increasing use of guns among gang members.
You will already be aware of the various actions taken by the Police to increase operational deployments. I can confirm that a small team from the FBI arrived on Island yesterday to conduct a 2 day workshop on gang tactics for the BPS and members of the Justice system.
His Excellency, the Governor and I met with the team and BPS leadership this morning prior to the start of the workshop – those discussions were very fruitful and will likely lead to further assistance.
Government has accepted the offer from the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg of assistance of officers from the NYC Police Department Gang Unit.
Additionally Government has approved the recruitment on short term attachment of a contingent of officers from the UK to supplement BPS stretched resources.
Government is committed to the maintenance of law and order and will continually review our options in concert with the Bermuda Police Service leadership and Government House.
Minister Burch emphasized that enforcement is just part of the equation. He reiterated his call for members of the community who have knowledge of violent crimes and criminals to come forward. We all have to do our part to take back Bermuda. Minister Burch:
Those are the tough options – strong law enforcement but as a caring Government who believes in rehabilitation and redemption there are opportunities for those who wish to change their behaviour. I encourage families to take advantage of the agencies both Government and private that already exist to assist and likewise participate in those new organistions created to meet this current challenge.
If we want - as we say we do a peaceful, safe country for our children and grandchildren; then we have to be willing to be witnesses. We have to be willing to identify wrong, to stand up and denounce evil. We have to be prepared to draw a line in the sand determining what we — as a community — will not accept.
Our community is under siege because we didn't want to get involved - but it is past time to get involved.
The job of parenting is not an easy one and it is not a job that parents or society should take lightly. Parenting is also not a job that should be done in isolation. There is a role for Government to play, there is a role for society in general to play and there is a role for churches and religion to play.
Government has many agencies to assist parents. You will have learned first hand what is available from Ministers Neletha Butterfield and Walter Roban from this very podium on Christmas Eve when they set out what Government is doing to help families.
Of course, there is more that can be done, Bermuda is too small not to have all our citizens playing their full role in society.
In the interim, however, I plead with all the residents of this Country - urging you to continue to stand firm in the face of this seemingly endless cycle of gun violence. Be assured that the Bermuda Police Service is resolute in wrestling back our communities “one street at a time” to quote the new Commissioner. Let me state at this juncture our thanks to all those citizens who have so far come forward.
While these have been daunting days, I cannot stress enough that the public’s cooperation is needed now more than ever. These incidents have witnesses and we need those individuals to come forward and provide whatever they know to the Police.
Our most sincere condolences and heartfelt prayers go out to the family of Perry Puckerin.
