Adults must set a better example, forum told

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Bermuda’s violence problems will continue to escalate until people learn to deal with emotional trauma, Family Centre executive director Martha Dismont told a public meeting last night.

Ms Dismont urged families to find a way of talking about experiences such as verbal or sexual abuse, divorce or absentee parents, so they don’t return to haunt them further down the line.

And she described Bermuda’s culture of blame as an unhealthy environment for children, urging adults to set a better example with their own behaviour.

Ms Dismont joined Premier Paula Cox and other community leaders on a panel discussing social issues in front of about 150 people at Devonshire Recreation Club last night.

She told the audience unhealthy relationships are the number one concern at the Family Centre, saying: “An emotional trauma has occurred and people do not go and get assistance with it.

“It’s all over the place, spilling out everywhere. Verbal abuse, sexual abuse, absent fathers, absent mothers, divorce.

“All these issues, many of us will acknowledge that the family will have been victims of crime and violence; we might not necessarily go and seek help.

“People are traumatised, but as a nation we try to say things are okay. We don’t go and seek help. We as counsellors know if we don’t go and seek help, these issues will eventually show themselves.

“We have a community where we do a lot of blaming and shaming. If we have past historical emotional issues that have not been addressed, imagine what that’s doing to the children.”

The forum, organised by the Progressive Labour Party, was titled ‘Building a Stronger Community One Family at a Time’, with speakers including Ms Cox, Acting Inspector Scott Devine of the police’s neighbourhood watch scheme, and Mirrors coordinator Kimberley Jackson.

Ms Jackson recalled how young people had identified community disorganisation as a chief reason for their own difficulties at the time Mirrors was launched.

She said Mirrors has helped to make a serious difference to at-risk youngsters’ lives, but claimed more volunteers are desperately needed.

Mr Devine said the number of neighbourhood watches in Bermuda had almost doubled to 111 after the Victor Scott murder of Kimwandae Walker two years ago.

“That was the catalyst for numerous people saying enough is enough,” said the officer, who added that community action teams have also been tackling neighbourhood decay and organising social events.

Ms Cox said social problems must be approached with a careful plan and with input from all corners of society, saying: “Remember it’s a community action, and you collaborate or perish.”

The panel’s presentations were followed by a question-and-answer session, in which residents voiced a host of lengthy concerns about problems in their neighbourhoods.

One woman pointed to antisocial behaviour in the Alexandra Road area of Devonshire, alleging young people are disrespectful, destroy plants and attack feral chickens.

Devonshire North Central MP Glenn Blakeney said efforts have been underway to address those concerns, while Mr Devine said: “We have been there, and we will be there until we get the problem solved.”

He said police would bribe youngsters with food if necessary, explaining: “If that’s what it takes, it’s what it takes.

“If it takes bribing them with food to get them involved so we can talk to them, then that’s what we will do.

“They need to be part of the solution as well, or it won’t be a full-time solution.”

Also during the meeting, Public Works Minister Michael Weeks revealed his Ministry has ordered eight new trucks to improve its collection efforts.

“A lot of the garbage fleet has outlived its usefulness,” said Mr Weeks.

He was responding to a fiery set of questions from audience member Nelson Hunt, who wanted to know why trash is being repeatedly collected after 5pm, meaning workers are paid overtime.

“I don’t see why we have to pay taxes and pay overtime to people who can’t get their work done,” said the businessman.

Mr Hunt also demanded Transport Minister Walter Roban get to grips with transport staff he said seem keener to go on walkouts than do their job.

“It’s unacceptable, it’s rude behaviour, and it needs to be stopped,” said Mr Hunt to cheers from the crowd.

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